Allah Almighty says: {Therefore remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and do not be ungrateful.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 152] And He says: {If you are grateful, I will surely give you more} [Surat Ibrāhīm: 7] And He says: {And say, “All praise is for Allah...} [Surat al-Isrā’: 111] And He says: {and the closing of their prayer will be, “All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”} [Surat Yūnus: 10]
Praise is to ascribe all aspects of perfection to Allah Almighty as suit Him, and to exalt Him above all that is opposite to them. Repeated praise denotes laudation, while repeated laudation denotes glorification.
Gratefulness is to demonstrate Allah’s blessings and acknowledge them by the heart, tongue, and body. Showing gratefulness for wealth can be accomplished by acknowledging the fact that Allah Almighty is the Bestower of such a blessing, along with spending in charitable causes.
1) Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) that benefits a servant is that is done by the heart, and its benefit is ultimate when it is done by both the heart and tongue.
2) Remembrance of Allah comprises all acts of obedience that draw one close to Allah Almighty, including acts of worship, enjoining good, forbidding evil, learning knowledge, contemplation, self-reckoning, remembering Allah by the tongue... in fact, all these acts are included in the remembrance of Allah.
3) Gratefulness to Allah has two great benefits:
First: acknowledging servitude to Allah Almighty and fulfilling some of His rights.
Second: it is a reason for receiving more blessings and enjoying them permanently.
4) The verses encourage constant praise of Allah Almighty in all circumstances, and at times of ease and hardship. Allah, The Exalted, is the One Who is praised for initiating the creation, sending down legislation, continuity of creation, and termination of creation. Praising Allah Almighty in all circumstances was part of the guidance of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). When it was a time of prosperity he would say: “Al-hamdulillāhi alladhi bini‘matihi tatimmu as-sālihāt (Praise be to Allah, by Whose favor good things are accomplished)”, and when it was a time of hardship he would say: “Al-hamdulillāhi ‘ala kulli hāl (Praise be to Allah in all situations).”
1393/1- It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that on the night of Isrā (night journey to Al-Aqsa Mosque), the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was offered two cups, a cup of wine and a cup of milk. He looked at them then took the one with milk. Thereupon, Jibrīl (peace be upon him) said: “Praise be to Allah Who guided you to the sound disposition. Were you to choose wine, your Ummah (nation) would go astray.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) Constant praise of Allah Almighty in all circumstances is a reason for the servant to be guided to what is good and saved from evil.
2) Wine is the source of all evils as it is a reason for misguidance and error.
3) A servant’s acting in accordance with Fitrah (sound natural disposition) is one of the deeds that Allah Almighty likes and is pleased with.
1394/2- He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Every important matter that does not start with praise of Allah is devoid of blessing.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and others; Hasan (Sound)] [1]
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1) It is recommended to start all matters by praising Allah Almighty, especially what is significant thereof.
2) Blessings are sent down by remembering Allah’s name and praising Him. This is one of the fruits of praising Allah Almighty, and from this one knows that whatever is attributed to Allah Almighty is blessed, and that whatever is disconnected from Him is devoid of blessing.
1395/3- Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When someone’s child dies, Allah Almighty asks His angels: ‘Have you taken the life of My slave’s child?’ They reply in the affirmative. He then asks: ‘Have you taken the fruit of his heart?’ They reply in the affirmative. Thereupon he asks: ‘What did My slave say?’ They say: ‘He praised You and said: Inna lillāhi wa inna ilayhi rāji‘ūn (Verily, we belong to Allah and, verily, to Him we shall return).’ Allah then says: ‘Build a house for My slave in Paradise and name it Bayt-ul-Hamd (the House of Praise).’” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as Hasan (sound)]
1) Pointing out that the reward of the one who praises Allah Almighty at times of hardship is that Allah Almighty gives him in return a house in Paradise which is called “House of Praise.”
2) A successful believer, when stricken by a calamity, constantly adheres to patience, expects Allah’s reward, praises Allah Almighty for everything, and makes Istirjā‘ by saying: “Inna lillāhi wa inna ilayhi rāji‘ūn” (Verily we belong to Allah and, verily, to Him we shall return).
3) Seeking refuge with Allah Almighty at the time of calamity alleviates it and heals one’s suffering.
4/1396- Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah is pleased with one who eats some food and then praises Him for it, or who drinks some drink and then praises Him for it.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) A slave showing gratitude to Allah Almighty for the blessing of food and drink is a reason for him to earn Allah Almighty’s pleasure.
2) It is recommended to say Bismillāh (In the Name of Allah) at the beginning of eating and drinking, and to end them by saying Alhamdulillāh (Praise be to Allah), in accordance with the guidance of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
According to the Shariah, one should say when starting to eat or drink “Bismillāh” (In the Name of Allah), which is called Tasmiyah. Meanwhile, saying: “Bismillāh Ar-Rahmān Ar-Rahīm” (In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful), as commonly known among people, is what scholars call Basmalah. It is prescribed to recite Basmalah at the beginning of the surahs of the Quran. So, we should not confuse between Tasmiyah and Basmalah.
The successful is the one who adheres to the guidance of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in this regard and say the exact wording of the regular prophetic remembrances in their proper occasions, seeking thereby to follow him, as this is the due compliance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
Book on Invoking Peace and Blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)