We know you by your gifts

Islam is the name of the relationship between our Creator, Allahﷻ and us. The Kalima Shahada is an affirmation of that relationship and the one who accepts it is a Muslim. To accept this relationship means to believe it in your heart, state that with your tongue, and act upon it with your limbs. That is the definition of Iman – Faith. Not merely to know, but to believe and submit our will and obey. That’s why the first and foremost demonstration of that is Salah which is evidence of our Iman. That is also why the first question that we will be asked in the grave will be: Who is your Rabb? The angels will not ask who the Rabb of the Universe is. They will ask, ‘Who is YOUR Rabb?’ Did we accept Allahﷻ Rabbul A'alameen as our Rabb? Rabbi Allahﷻ.

Allahﷻ mentioned a differentiating characteristic of the Believers and said:

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ

Baqara 2: 165   But the Believers love Allahﷻ with great intensity

The question is, can you love someone you don’t know? But how can we know Allahﷻ when we can’t see Him? We know Allahﷻ by reflecting on His bounties. Allahﷻ indicated this connection with gratitude in Al Fatiha

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

Fatiha 1: 2   All praise and thanks are for Allah—Rabb of all worlds

The very first thing that we must thank Allahﷻ for is for introducing Himself to us, for honoring us with His Word, for honoring us with His Messengerﷺ and for honoring us with guidance to Himself and Jannah.

The biggest need of humankind is not money or political or military power or anything else but guidance to the way of justice, compassion, charity, concern for one another and when we die, Jannah. That is why Allahﷻ sent all His Messengers and Prophets who were the best of all human beings with the greatest of all gifts – guidance to the path of steadfastness. That is why Allahﷻ taught us to ask for guidance 17 times every day in Sura Al Fatiha. This is what we must thank Allahﷻ for, above all else. For guidance to Him. Sadly, for many of us, we take blessings for granted and do not express gratitude for them and spend our time complaining about any hardship that comes our way. Allahﷻ reminded us always to have an attitude of gratitude.

وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ

Ibrahim 14: 34    And He has granted you all that you asked Him for. If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you would never be able to number them. Indeed, humankind is truly unfair, ˹totally˺ ungrateful.

The Qur’an encourages us to reflect on the creation and learn to see the Glory and Magnificence of Allahﷻ reflected in it and to thank and glorify His praise. This produces joy in the heart that is unequalled and unsurpassed.

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ ٱلْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّى لَنَفِدَ ٱلْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَـٰتُ رَبِّى وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِۦ مَدَدًا

Kahf 18: 109    Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If the ocean were ink for ˹writing˺ the Words of my Rabb, it would certainly run out before the Words of my Rabb were finished, even if We refilled it with its equal.”

Allahﷻ reminded us to be conscious of His blessings and to thank Him and said that for those who are thankful, He would increase His blessings.

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ

Ibrahim 14: 7    And ˹remember˺ when your Rabb proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’”

We recognize Allahﷻ by His gifts. He said about His Word, the Qur’an.

ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ عَلَّمَهُ ٱلْبَيَانَ

Ar-Rahman 55: 1/4  The Most Compassionate, taught the Qur’an, created humanity, ˹and˺ taught them speech.

Allahﷻ drew our attention to the world around us so that we can recognize His bounties and favors upon us and thank Hi...