If a person who was once blind regains their sight, they truly consider it a “blessing” and seek to express gratitude for it. However, if they have never been blind and have always had their sight, they are less likely to show gratitude for it. This stems from human heedlessness, as gratitude for blessings is often dependent on losing them and then regaining them at a later time. In contrast, a blessing that has always existed should be prioritized for gratitude.
The importance of gratitude is such that the Quran and its Hadiths not only describe it as a means of preserving blessings, but also as a cause for the increase of blessings from God. For example, Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) says:
“Increase in blessings from God will never cease, unless gratitude from the servants ceases”[1].
Now, given that gratitude is so important according to the words of the Imam (peace be upon him), a question arises: “How can we ensure that we are not heedless of this important matter?”
By outlining a few practical steps and implementing them, we can try to develop the admirable trait of being grateful within ourselves.
First, recognizing God and reflecting on His creations and the various blessings He has given us—whether they are apparent, hidden, general, or specific.
Second, we should be aware that those who have passed away have the greatest desire for God to return them to the world so that they can perform righteous deeds in order to be saved from torment in the Hereafter or to have their ranks elevated. Therefore, we should try to create a sense of reflection within ourselves by visiting cemeteries and contemplating this request of theirs. We can also express gratitude for the blessing of life, imagining ourselves as one of them, with the difference being that our prayers have been answered—we have returned to the world and have the opportunity to use the remaining time in doing what the departed souls would want to do if they were alive.
Third, we should remember some of the causes of destruction or death that have occurred in our lives, such as major calamities or serious illnesses, and recall our salvation from them. By doing so, we realize the value of life and its blessings, and we thank God for them. We should not be sad about the things that come our way and go against our desires.
Fourth, in every calamity or hardship, we should thank God that a greater calamity has not befallen us, especially a calamity related to our faith (which could potentially lead to the loss of our faith). This is why Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) prayed: “O God! Do not make my calamity in my faith”[2].
Fifth, some calamities are the punishment for sins we have committed. When such punishment arrives in this world, we are often saved from the much heavier punishment in the Hereafter, as the Quran states[3]. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, when a servant commits a sin and a hardship or calamity comes to him in this world, God is more generous than to punish him again”[4]. Therefore, we should thank God for the alleviation of the punishment.
Indeed, if we truly appreciate our blessings and firmly believe in the words of Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) regarding gratitude, we will strive, even in difficult circumstances, to not only preserve the blessings we have, but also open the door for more blessings to come by showing gratitude for what we have received.
(Adapted from the book “Jami’ al-Sa’adat” by Allama Mulla Mhedi Naraghi, translated by Mr. Karim Feyzi, with abridgments and additions)
Footnotes:
[1] (Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 457)
[2] (Holy Quran, verses 99 and 100 of Surah Al-Mu’minun)
[3] (Holy Quran, verse 34 of Surah Ar-Ra’d)
[4] (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 91, p. 165)
[5] (Bihar al-Anwar, by Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi, Vol. 6, p. 28)