Greatest Gratitude

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah only commands us what benefit us.

...يُرِيدُ اللَّـهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ...

... Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship...

Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:185

Ultimately, obedience of Allah leads to Paradise. Even if a particular command were to lead to all kinds of hardship and discomfort, this will dwindle away to nothing with the eternal benefits of Paradise.

Allah describes Himself as Al-Wadud, the One Who loves His slaves and His slaves love Him. His love to His slaves is His Will to be merciful to them and praise them.

Allah says,

هُوَ الَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

It is He who sends down upon His Servant [Muhammad] verses of clear evidence that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And indeed, Allah is to you Kind and Merciful.

[Qur'an Al-Hadid 57:9]

Allah says,

يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُّحْضَرًا وَمَا عَمِلَتْ مِن سُوءٍ تَوَدُّ لَوْ أَنَّ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُ أَمَدًا بَعِيدًا ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسَهُ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ

The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it] and what it has done of evil, it will wish that between itself and that [evil] was a great distance. And Allah warns you of Himself, and Allah is Kind to [His] servants.

[Qur'an AleImran 3:30]

His servants are those who obey Him. If you obey Allah, He will be compassionate and merciful to you.

وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّـهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.

[Qur'an al-'Araf 7:56]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to pray until his feet would swell through standing at night in prayer.

Narrated by Aisha, Allah be pleased with her,

The Prophet used to offer prayer at night (for such a long time) that his feet used to crack. I said, "O Allah's Apostle! Why do you do it since Allah has forgiven you your faults of the past and those to follow?" He said, "Shouldn't I love to be a thankful slave (of Allah)?' When he became old, he prayed while sitting, but if he wanted to perform a bowing, he wound get up, recite (some other verses) and then perform the bowing.

(Bukhari)

The greatest gratitude comes from having this view of Allah.

When someone has a loving relationship with his Lord, they are drawn to his Lord. When he reads the Qur'an, he gains a sense of happiness, optimism and gratitude.

May Allah increase our love and gratitude towards Him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam