The 62nd Syarah of Wisdom – Syarah al-Hikam

 

The 62nd WISDOM OF WISDOM

"A person who is not good at being grateful, enjoyment will soon run away. But if a blessing is always greeted with gratitude, it will definitely thrive."

Most people translate the word gratitude to be limited to saying 'Alhamdulillah' which is repeated over and over again. Often we say 'Alhamdulillah is good' when asked, how are you? This is what many people consider grateful. Is it that simple?

Pay attention to QS. As-Saba':13 follows.

The jinn made for Solomon what he wanted from tall buildings and statues and plates that were (big) like a pool and fixed pots (on the stove). Work, O family of David, to give thanks (to Allah). And very few of My servants are grateful.

 This verse clearly indicates that the concept of gratitude is not as simple as it seems.

Gratitude in the Quran has a different meaning. It's not as simple as 'Alhamdulillah', which even wicked people often say, even though they don't understand what it means. Gratitude here is about mysticism and empowerment, namely empowering all the blessings that God has given according to the original purpose of its creation . The words 'Alhamdulillah' and 'I am grateful' are only fragments of the suluk above, as well as someone's promise to carry out their contents.

If the charity matches the saying then it is true. But if the deeds do not match, then the person who says 'Alhamdulillah' is lying.

God's grace should be used properly. The pleasure of reason is grateful for by trying to know His essence through the existing natural arguments. The way to be grateful for the pleasure of the sense of sight is to observe objects if they can strengthen the level of makrifat to Allah and His attributes.

Likewise, other blessings must be properly grateful. So that we are listed as grateful servants not unbelieving servants. If so, a person is given favors of wealth and wealth, but instead uses immorality, meaning he is 'kufr' towards His favors.

'Kufr' in QS. Ibrahim:7 The following is of course not the opposite of the word 'faith', but the opposite of the word gratitude with the meaning of empowering favors according to the purpose for which they were created.

And (remember also), when your Lord declared; "Indeed, if you are grateful, We will surely increase you (favors) and if you deny (My favors), then My punishment will be very painful."

Kufr meant here is not appreciating the grace that Allah has given by using it in an improper way. With the explanation of gratitude and kufr for the favors above, then not being grateful for the favors will result in someone being hindered from these favors.

When one is ungrateful; pleasure is actually made a sin, but he always enjoys that pleasure, maybe this is istidraj. Istidraj is a punishment that is slowly given to someone, in the form of an abundance of favors, even though he continues to be in the confines of immorality.

Likewise, if you are grateful, then Allah removes the favors from your life, then this is part of God's mercy to you. How not, by withdrawing pleasure, it means that Allah keeps you away from things that cause you to be busy and forget about Him. People who are plagued with trials and calamities one after another, do not mean that the person is bad, not a good person, has many sins and is not grateful. Because sometimes Allah gives calamities to erase the sins he has committed or to elevate him to a higher degree.

Pay attention to the next wisdom, "people who are good at being grateful, favors grow more and more" . When leaving gratitude, the favors 'will soon' run away and are not certain to escape, because God may not erase the favors in the context of istidraj. But if you are good at being grateful, surely it will be delicious to thrive, even more and more and more. This difference is part of the generosity. At the same time part of the 'love' of Allah, justice and the greatness of His grace. Gratitude to Allah must be done to fulfill the divine right, but believe me the sweetness will also be felt by the people around us.