Al-Risala (English), September-October 1998

Thanksgiving

1998 9-10 September-October 5 Thanksgiving (179) Thanksgiving for man is to acknowledge the blessings of God. This acknowledgement first arises in the heart then, taking the form of words, it comes to the lips of the grateful person.

From birth, man has been superbly endowed in body and mind by his Creator. All his requirements have been amply catered for, every object in the heavens and on earth having been pressed into his service. All the things necessary for his leading a good life on earth and the building of a civilization have been provided in abundance.

Man experiences these blessings at every moment. It is, therefore, incumbent on man to thank God for His blessings at all times. His heart should be eternally brimming with gratitude for these divine blessings.

Thanksgiving is the most comprehensive term of worship: gratefulness is the essence of the godly life. The best expression of that gratefulness is the expenditure of time and money in the way of God. It is God, after all who has given man the reason to worship Him and the means to do so.

WHATEVER HAPPENS IS THE WILL OF GOD

1998 9-10 September-October 5 WHATEVER HAPPENS IS THE WILL OF GOD (57) When certain people offered to guard Ali (The fourth Caliph), the son of Abu Talib, the latter replied, “Destiny is man’s guardian.” According to another tradition, he said, “No man will taste the joy of faith until he realizes that he could never have escaped what has befallen him, nor enjoyed what escaped him.”

(Abu Dawud, Sunan)