5 ways to practice gratitude

Gratitude or syukur means thankfulness, counting our blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that we receive. It means learning to live our life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much we’ve been given.

Gratitude shifts our focus from what our life lacks to the abundance that is already present. To say we feel grateful is not to say that everything in our lives is necessarily great. It just means we are aware of our blessings. 

Islam teaches that Allah is bounteous, merciful, loving, providing and infinitely gracious. Actively and consciously practicing gratitude in Islam is the key to a life of abundance, prosperity, peace and joy. 

Furthermore, the Qur’an emphasizes that gratitude is essential to Islamic character, and that exercising gratitude in Islam is the means to greater abundance. 

“And remember! Your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): "If you are grateful, I will add more (favors) unto you; But if you show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed." (Ibrahim :7) 

Research by Dr. Emmons revealed that the practice of gratitude can results in a person to:

1. Increase happiness levels by around 25%, 
2. Be more creative, 
3. Bounce back more quickly from adversity, 
4. Have a stronger immune system that can improve physical health, 
5. Have stronger social relationships, 
6. Act in ways that enhances the quality of their moments, days, and lives. 

(Source: Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make We Happier)

We can cultivate an attitude of gratitude in Islam by always being grateful so that the words “Alhamdulillah” naturally and continuously flow from our lips and are felt in our heart, and our life will increasingly become a shining example of true Islam, a path to peace, prosperity and abundance.

5 ways to practice gratitude in our life: 

1. Take a brief moment first thing in the morning when we wake up by reciting this dua: 

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

"All praise be to Allah, who has given us life after death and to Him is our return after death". 

2.  Before going to bed be grateful by reciting Al-Baqarah: 285-286. 

3.  Experience gratitude by consciously recite dua after we eat and drink. 

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَجَعَلَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

"Praise be to Allah, who fed us and quenched our thirst and made us Muslims". 

4.   Recite this dua after coming out from toilet. 

غُفْرَانَكَ

"I seek Your pardon".

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَذْهَبَ عَنِّي الْأَذَى وَعَافَانِي

“Praise be to Allah who removed from me discomfort and gave me relief”. 

5.  Give charity. By consciously giving charity, we not only affirm that we are blessed, but we attract greater abundance to ourselves as we strengthen our belief and trust in Allah.

To conclude, one of the attributes of Allah is Ash-Shakur meaning that Allah is the most appreciative. So we should be grateful to the one who endows us with health, family, wealth, peace and security. By recognizing Allah’s bounties, our hearts will find contentment and peace.