FROM MAULANA'S DESK

possesses. There are numerous stars and planets in space, abundant species of animals, majestic mountains, vast oceans and so many other forms of creation but no creature can match up to man! This is one aspect of the human personality. Another exceptional characteristic feature of mankind is that man can think. By applying his mind, he can personalise all the bounties given by the Creator. The Quran observes: He has subjected whatever is in heaven and whatever is on the earth to you (man). THE QURAN 45: 13 This is a matter of great blessing, and modern science has confirmed this by discovering that this universe is a custom-made universe. There are verses in the Quran that tell man to do Shukr-e Kaseer (to express much gratitude to God). This form of Shukr (gratefulness) is not in the form of simply repeating certain words of praise or thanks. It is an expression of a certain state of being. How can one attain this level of gratefulness? The formula is very simple: first you have to discover the universal bounties of God Almighty upon man, and then you have to reflect on what these mean to you personally. Relate to these divine bounties as if they were created especially for you. Cherish the personal benefits that you derive from them. Personalise them. It is this method of thinking that inculcates the spirit which is mentioned in the Quran as Shukr-e Kaseer. If you personalise all these bounties in this way, you will feel overwhelmed with a sense of enormous gratitude that could be called thrilling shukr. It may be so great that you would feel that you have no words to express your feelings, that even all the words of dictionary in every language are insufficient to express your inner feeling of shukr or gratefulness. It is this great sense of gratefulness which is referred to in the Quran as Shukr-e Kaseer. o Maulana Wahiduddin Khan editor@thespiritofislam.org