Shukr

Shukr (Arabic شكر ), an Arabic term denoting thankfulness, gratitude, or acknowledgment by humans, is a highly esteemed virtue in Islam. The term may also be used if the subject is God, in which case it takes the meaning of "divine responsiveness".

In Islamic contexts

1. God;

• When the subject of shukr is God, the concept signifies "requiting and commending [a person]", "forgiving" a person, or "regarding" the person "with content, satisfaction, good will"; and thus, necessarily, "recompensing". In fact, the Arabic saying shakara 'llāhu saʿyahu mean "May God recompense, or reward, his work or labour".
• One of the beautiful names of God is al-Shakūr,^[1] meaning "He who approves, or rewards, or forgives, much; He in whose estimation small, or few, works performed by His servants increase, and who multiplies His rewards to them". The Qur'an refers to Him by al-Shākir^[2] too.
• God is considered al-Shakūr in the sense that He widely extends His favors. God's shukr is not to be considered thankfulness in a literal sense. Rather God's shukr is a recompense to man for doing good, (just as man is recomposed for committing offenses^[3]). According to al-Ghazali, God is absolutely grateful, because of His unlimited multiplication of the reward of the pious, as they shall receive eternal bliss in Paradise. Al-Maksad writes that God's praise for man's good deeds is praise for His own work, since the good of man is His creation.^[4]

1. Prophets;

The Qur'an provides narratives of the prophets of God as individuals of gratitude. Their thanksgiving is exemplified by their obedience and faithfulness to God:^[5]

• Abraham’s obedience and faithfulness were tokens of his gratitude to God;^[6]
• Noah is described as a man of gratitude;^[7]
• the Qur'an reasons that the endowment of Solomon with supernatural gifts to accomplish the ends for which God appointed him, was so that he would be grateful.^[8]

1. The hadith collections include various reports of Muhammad expressing gratitude to God. He fell down prostrate to God three times during the Hijra from Mecca to Medina. He is also reported to have done this after Gabriel informed him a favor God had bestowed upon him. Muhammad also used to do this to thank God for his good health, especially when he met those afflicted with illness. Other instances on which Muhammad prostrated in thanks: military success, conversion of notable people to Islam.^[9]

Reality of Shukr

• In a Sufi context, shukr is an internal state and its external expression. It is considered a station (maḳām) of the wayfarer (sālik). ^[10]

Quranic verses regards Shukr

• O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allah — Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah, if it is indeed He Whom you worship”. ^[11]
• “And among His Signs is this, that He sends the winds as glad tidings, giving you a taste of His Mercy (i.e. rain), and that the ships may sail at His Command, and that you may seek of His Bounty, in order that you may be thankful”. ^[12]
• “Therefore, remember Me (by praying, glorifying). I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favours on you) and never be ungrateful to Me" . ^[13]
• “And say: `All the praises and thanks be to Allah". ^[14]
• "Indeed We created man from the drop of a mixed fluid so that We may test him. So We made him endowed with hearing and sight. Indeed We have guided him to the way, be he grateful or ungrateful" . ^[15]
• "...If you are thankful 1 will give you more; but if you are thankless, My punishment is surely terrible" . ^[16]
• "If you are ungrateful (takfur-u), indeed Allah has no need of you, though He does not approve ingratitude (al-kufr) for His servants; and if you give thanks He approves that for you. No bearer shall bear another’s burden; then to your Lord will be your return, whereat He will inform you concerning what you used to do. Indeed He knows best what is in the breasts". ^[17]
• "So when he saw it set near him, he said, ‘This is by the grace of my Lord, to test me if I will give thanks or be ungrateful (akfur). And whoever gives thanks, gives thanks only for his own sake. And whoever is ungrateful (kafar) [should know that] my Lord is indeed all-sufficient, all-generous". ^[18]
• "Certainly We gave Luqman wisdom, saying, ‘Give thanks to Allah; and whoever gives thanks, gives thanks only for his own sake. And whoever is ungrateful (kafar), [let him know that] Allah is indeed all-sufficient, all-laudable". ^[19]

Shukr in Hadiths

• It has been narrated from [Imam Ja’far Muhammad] as-Sadiq said that: “It has been written in the Tawrah [Thus, in reality this is what is known as a hadith-e-Qudsi] that, "There is no end to the Divine blessings if thanks are given (for that blessing) and there is no longevity for it (that blessing) if ingratitude is shown (to it)”. ^[20]
• Al-Kulayni narrates with his isnad from Abu-AbdAllah (Imam Sadiq) that he said; The Messenger of Allah said: “One who takes food with gratitude has a reward like the one who fasts exercising vigilance over himself, The healthy person grateful for his health has a reward like the one who bears his (bodily) afflictions patiently. And one who gives gratefully has a reward similar to the one who bears his deprivation with continence”. ^[21]
• Al-Kulayni reports with his isnad from Ubayd Allah ibn al-Walid that he said: I heard Abu Abdallah say: “There are three things in whose presence nothing can harm one: prayer in affliction, seeking God’s forgiveness for one’s sins, and thanksgiving for God’s favors". ^[21]
• Umar ibn Yazid says, I heard Abu Abdallah says: “The (adequate mode of) thanksgiving for all favors, however great they may be, is that you praise God, the Almighty and the Glorious, on their account" . ^[21]
• Al-Kulayni reports with his isnad from Abu Abdallah that he said, “Gratitude for God’s gifts lies in abstaining from what He has made unlawful. One’s thanksgiving is complete when one says: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”22 {kafi}
• Imam al-Sadiq said: One who has been given thankfulness has been also given increase (in ni’mah) Allah, Almighty and Glorious, says: “If you are thankful, surely I will increase you". ^[21]

Expression

The expression of shukr takes various forms in the Islamic tradition. The maxim "he who does not thank his fellow men shows ingratitude towards God" highlights the importance of such expression. On the other hand, those who are thanked are expected to say "don't thank me, be grateful to God."^[22]

It is common practice to kiss one's hands and to say "I praise Him and thank Him for His bounty." Another expression is "we are thankful to God, and we kiss the ground thousand fold that you are pleased." When asked about health, one may answer "thank God", gratitude to God is also commonly expressed for someone's recovery. In times of calamity, gratitude is expressed by saying "thank God it is not more grave".^[22]

Shukr is also expressed by prostration (sujud). Although most notable for being a fundamental part of the Islamic prayer, Islamic traditions also mentions the sujud al-shukr, literally meaning "the thanksgiving prostration."^[9]

References in tradition

• Imam as-Sadiq says: “Whenever you remember a blessing, place your forehead on the ground as a token of thanks and if you see that the people are looking at you, as a respect for that favor, bend a little bit.”^[23]
• Imam Mahdi said "the most necessary of the recommended acts {sunnah} is sujud shukr".^[24]

See also

• Sabr
• Tawwakul

Notes

References

• Rist, John M. (1982). Human Value: A Study in Ancient Philosophical Ethics. BRILL. ISBN 90-04-06757-4. 
• Tottoli, Roberto (1998). "The Thanksgiving Prostration ("sujūd al-shukr") in Muslim Traditions". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Cambridge University Press. 61 (2): 309–313. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00013835.