بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Ingratitude is a state that grips all men except a few who Allah protects and guides to the reality of gratitude. Ingratitude is of varying degrees--associating partners with Allah, acts of disobedience and not using one's blessings for what they are meant to be used is deep ingratitude. We cannot hide this ingratitude from Allah and indeed from our own conscience. Allah knows our intense love for wealth and things of this life and it being the reason for our disobedience.
إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لِرَبِّهِۦ لَكَنُودٌ۬ (٦) وَإِنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ ذَٲلِكَ لَشَہِيدٌ۬ (٧) وَإِنَّهُ ۥ لِحُبِّ ٱلۡخَيۡرِ لَشَدِيدٌ (٨) ۞ أَفَلَا يَعۡلَمُ إِذَا بُعۡثِرَ مَا فِى ٱلۡقُبُورِ (٩) وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ (١٠) إِنَّ رَبَّہُم بِہِمۡ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ لَّخَبِيرُۢ (١١)
"Surely, man is ungrateful to his Lord and surely he is a witness against that! Surely he is passionate in his love for good things. Knows he not that when that which is in the tombs is over-thrown, and that which is in the breasts is brought out -- surely on that day their Lord shall be aware of them!" Qur'an Al-Adiyat 100:6-11
If you find it difficult to fulfill an act of worship, or obey Allah's command, remember the deep gratitude that you owe to your Lord.
A powerful cure to break out of ingratitude is to remember death and the judgment that follows it. In the end we will be alone in our graves--nothing else matters except our own good deeds. So till your land, sow good seeds and nurture them so you can reap a good harvest later inshaAllah.
ٱلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡۖ فَأَلۡقَوُاْ ٱلسَّلَمَ مَا ڪُنَّا نَعۡمَلُ مِن سُوٓءِۭۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمُۢ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ (٢٨) فَٱدۡخُلُوٓاْ أَبۡوَٲبَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَاۖ فَلَبِئۡسَ مَثۡوَى ٱلۡمُتَكَبِّرِينَ (٢٩
...Those whose lives the angels take while they are doing wrong to themselves" Then, they will make (false) submission (saying): "We used not to do any evil." (The angels will reply): "Yes! Truly, Allah is All-Knower of what you used to do. So enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein, and indeed, what an evil abode will be for the arrogant." Qur'an An-Nahl 16:28-29
ٱلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ طَيِّبِينَۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ (٣٢
"...Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state, saying, 'Peace be on you! Enter Paradise for that you were doing.'" Qur'an An-Nahl 16:32
It is hard to be arrogant and proud if religious duties are performed out of true sense of neediness and gratitude.
May Allah protect us from the torment of the grave and the punishment of the Hellfire and enter us into Firdaus. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
