The cause of persistence of blessings - Part II

The thanksgiving: Its definition and core

The thanksgiving in the language: means the appearance, as we say a thankful beast if it becomes fatty in excess of the feed given to it, and the thanksgiving is opposite to the denial.[1]

The thanksgiving is mentioned in 77 citations in different forms such as: a verb, a noun, single, plural, and an exaggeration form to show the importance of this merit in the life of people.

The thanksgiving idiomatically:

The sayings of the scholars were different as regards the definition of the thanksgiving, and one of the best definitions is what was said by Thennoon Abulfayd (May Allah have mercy on him):"The thanksgiving to anyone who is higher than you is by obedience to him, by reward to anyone who is equal to you, and by beneficence to anyone who is lower than you)[2]

And Sahl bin Abd Allah (May Allah have mercy on him) said:" The thanksgiving is doing one's best to obey Allah with avoiding the sins in secret and in public."[3]

                And it was defined by the adherence of the heart to the love of the Giver, the organs to the acts of obedience, and the tongue to remembering and praising Him[4]

                And Al-Gonaid (May Allah have mercy on him) said: “The thanksgiving is not to disobey Allah using His Grace."[5]

                And Ash-Shibly (May Allah have mercy on him) said: “The thanksgiving is the humility, adherence to good deeds, not following the lusts, and watching the Compeller (Exalted is He)."[6]

And by combining between these sayings, we can define the thanksgiving by praising the Giver for His Grace, and confessing to the dereliction of the commander.

The core of thanksgiving

Let's try to reflect on the core of thanksgiving and the sayings of the scholars about it in order not to misunderstand its core, and not to waste our life in a way not agreeing with the truth.

So, what is its core?

Al-Qurtoby (May Allah have mercy on him) said: The core of thanksgiving is confessing to the Blessing of the Giver, and not to disobey Him using His Grace.

And Ibn El-Qayyim (May Allah have mercy on him) said:" The core of thanksgiving to Allah is the appearance of the effect of His Blessing on His slave' tongue in the form of praising and confession, on his heart in the form of love and magnification, and on his organs in the form of obedience and submission."[1]

So, it has been manifest to you that the core of thanksgiving is the confession to the blessing by heart, talking about it by tongue, and using it to gain the Pleasure of its Giver.

For example, for whom Allah bestowed money on, the core of his thanksgiving is performing the commands of Allah related to it as giving its Zakât, spending it in the ways of righteousness, and spending it on himself, his family and relatives.

And Al-Hassan Al-Basry said as regards this meaning: “This money was given to you lawfully, so don't let it be a heartbreak for you, and know that there will be heartbreaks on the Day of Resurrection, and the slave with the greatest heartbreak is who sees his money in the balance of others, its collector will be unhappy with it, while its inheritor will be happy with it, so, what a heartbreak that can't be removed."[2] 

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