Reflect on the simple things in life. Be grateful for all your blessings.

Jobs, cars, dream homes—undoubtedly, these are significant blessings from Allah, and they often stand out as obvious signs of His mercy and provision. Yet, it is all too easy for these larger blessings to overwhelm us and cause us to forget the subtler ones, the gifts we often take for granted simply because they are so seamlessly woven into our daily lives. How often do we pause to thank Him عزوجل for the small but vital things, like good health or clean drinking water? Even the simple act of breathing is a mercy beyond measure, yet how frequently do we reflect on and express gratitude for this gift?

Gratitude requires awareness and deliberate effort. We should take the time to reflect on all we have been given and strive to express our thanks for both the grand and the seemingly ordinary. Moreover, it is essential that we use these blessings responsibly, mindful of the fact that we will be held accountable for how we employed them whilst our time in living in the dunyā. The Blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم reminded us of this when he said:

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا يُسْأَلُ عَنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَعْنِي الْعَبْدَ مِنْ النَّعِيمِ أَنْ يُقَالَ لَهُ أَلَمْ نُصِحَّ لَكَ جِسْمَكَ وَنُرْوِيَكَ مِنْ الْمَاءِ الْبَارِدِ

“Verily, the first thing a servant will be asked about on the Day of Resurrection will be his blessings. It will be said to him: ‘Have We not given you health in your body and nourished you with cool water to drink?’”— Tirmidhī #3358

Allah عزوجل reminds us in the Qurʾān (2:152): <فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ> “So remember Me; I will remember you. Be thankful to Me, and never ungrateful.” This verse underscores the deep connection between gratitude and remembrance. Remembering Allah and acknowledging His blessings is not just an act of worship but also a transformative practice that nurtures humility and contentment.

Knowing the weight of gratitude in our relationship with Allahعزوجل, let us make a sincere effort to remember Him عزوجل in both our moments of joy and tribulation. His عزوجل gifts upon us are innumerable—no matter how much we thank Himعزوجل, it will never suffice to repay the kindness and mercy He عزوجل bestows upon us. However, even the smallest step towards gratitude is significant.

May we be among those who are counted as grateful in the Hereafter, and may Allah عزوجل accept our humble efforts. Let us begin today, taking a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks for all we have—both the obvious and the unseen.

And Allah عزوجل and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم know best.