Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Since Muslims are suppose to Shukar to ALLAH in any condition and this is an important part of the religion. My question is that I become very sad whenever I confront any problem or I take to much tension for small things. Does it come under Na-Shukri? 

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Answer:

What is ungratefullness

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Since Muslims are suppose to Shukar to ALLAH in any condition and this is an important part of the religion.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 76 Surah Dhahr verses 2-3:

2 Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm in order to try him: so We gave him (the gifts) of hearing and sight.

3 We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful.

Respected brother, not only is ‘shukr’ or being grateful to The Lord Creator an important part of religion, it is the very test and trial which man is involved in in the life of this short and transitory world. It is one’s state of belief, one’s words and one’s deeds which will establish in the Presence of Allah whether one was grateful unto his Lord for His Innumerable Favors, or was one ungrateful.

The literal meaning of the Arabic term ‘shukr’ is when the teats of a she-goat are so full that the milk starts overflowing by itself!

When man recognizes the innumerable and absolutely infinite favors of His Lord upon him and is so overwhelmed by The Lord Most Merciful’s Mercy and Grace that his heart overflows with His Remembrance and Praise….. and his tongue constantly utters and declares the Lord’s Praise and Glory….and his deeds constantly start to reflect the condition of his overwhelmed heart….that then would be the state of ‘shukr’!

Your Question: My question is that I become very sad whenever I confront any problem or I take to much tension for small things. Does it come under Na-Shukri? 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah Anbiyaa verse 35:

35 Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good (only) by way of trial: to Us must ye return.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 29 Surah Ankabut verses 2-3:

2 Do men think that they will be left alone on saying "We believe" and that they will not be tested?

3 We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false.

Respected brother, the momentary feeling of loss and pain when one is afflicted by a trial from their Lord is natural and only to be expected…..and that would not constitute as ‘ungratefulness’ in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.390 Narrated by Anas bin Malik

We went with Allah's Messenger (saws) to the blacksmith Abu Saif, and he was the husband of the wet-nurse of Ibrahim (the infant son of the Prophet (saws)). Allah's Messenger (saws) took Ibrahim and kissed him and smelled him and later we entered Abu Saif's house and at that time Ibrahim was in his last breaths, and the eyes of Allah's Messenger (saws) started shedding tears. Abdur Rahman bin Auf (r.a.) said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws), even you are weeping!" The Prophet (saws) replied: "O Ibn Auf, this (tears) is mercy." Then he (saws) wept more and said, "The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord, O Ibrahim! Indeed we are grieved by your separation."

But if one afflicted by a trial from their Lord constantly delves on that loss, or moans, or groans, or wails, or falls into such despair that constant sadness and tension is his lot…then indeed it would constitute ‘ungratefulness’ in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Shura verse 48 (part):

48 ….. And truly when We give man a taste of Mercy from Ourselves He doth exult thereat; but when some ill happens to him on account of the deeds which His hands have sent forth, truly then is man ungrateful!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 57 Surah Hadid verses 22-23:

22 No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a Decree before We bring it into existence: that is truly easy for Allah:

23 In order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by nor exult over favors bestowed upon you. For Allah loveth not any vainglorious boaster

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 30 Surah Rome verse 36:

36 When We give men a taste of Mercy they exult thereat: and when some evil afflicts them because of what their (own) hands have sent forth behold they are in despair!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Haa Meem verse 49:

49 Man does not weary of asking for good (things), but if ill touches him he gives up all hope (and) is lost in despair.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah Anbiyaa verse 9:

9 If We give man a taste of mercy from Ourselves and then withdraw it from him behold, he is in despair and (falls into) blasphemy.

In light of the above quoted guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, the momentary loss and pain one experiences when afflicted with a trial is not ‘ungratefulness’…. but rather ungratefulness is when man looses all hope and falls into constant despair.

If man could only realize that his loss, absolutely regardless of how much it may be, is only temporary and but a trial from their Lord, one would never ever lose hope in the Infinite Mercies of their Lord Most Gracious and fall into despair; and it would only be fitting for one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to accept the loss as a trial and a Decree from his Lord, bear it with a beautiful patience, recount the other innumerable favors his Lord has blessed him with, and keep his complete trust and belief and hope in the Mercy of His Lord unto Whom is his ultimate return……that then would constitute ‘shukr’ and gratefulness in the Sight of Allah, and it is on such grateful believers upon whom descend the Blessings and Mercies of their Lord Most Gracious.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 2 Surah Baqarah verses 155-157:

155 Be sure We shall test you with something of fear, and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil); but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.

156 Who say when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."

157 They are those on whom (descend) Blessings from Allah and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive Guidance.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan