In Islam, gratitude, or shukr, lies at the heart of faith. Shukr is a core spiritual state, a whole way of thinking, feeling and being in the world. It is a state of deep gratitude, not just for what we receive, but for existence itself—for the heart that beats and the air we breathe. It is not seen as peripheral, but foundational to the faith itself.
In this article, second in a series on gratitude and well-being, I will explore how faith and gratitude reinforce each other and share some lessons from the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) life. I will also examine how shukr contributes to our well-being and its impact on human connections.
Gratitude as a Living Expression of Faith
Interestingly, the opposite of shukr is not merely ingratitude—it is kufr. Kufr in its root (k-f-r) means to cover. Kufr, then is not just disbelief in the doctrinal sense, but implies a covering or denial of blessings, of truth. It is a denial of God’s generosity and our dependence on Him. So to live in shukr is to be constantly aware of being sustained by Allah’s countless blessings, both seen and unseen.
Shukr is not something reserved for good times, but it’s a state of heart that is thankful in every moment, whether good or bad. It’s easy to feel grateful when life is going well, but you may wonder how can a person be grateful for something painful or difficult? Take a moment to reflect on the times you’ve looked back and realized that something you once thought was harmful or painful turned out to serve you or even transform you. What once felt like a setback may have been a turning point for inner growth, outer change or both, for which you now feel grateful.
The relationship between faith and gratitude is dynamic and bidirectional—faith fuels gratitude and gratitude strengthens faith. Faith provides the framework through which we view life. It broadens our perspective, allowing us to see beyond the surface of events. It opens the heart to meaning, purpose and unseen realities. This connects our present struggles to spiritual realities. Overtime, we understand that even trials contain Allah’s Mercy, and can be a means of elevation, or forgiveness, or purification. We trust that the happenings in our lives are meaningful. This trust deepens our sense of gratitude and makes it possible for us to be grateful in moments of doubt or suffering.
As we begin to acquire a practice of gratitude, our heightened awareness of goodness deepens our trust in the process of life. This helps nurture and grow our faith. Consequently, faith and shukr, constantly nourish each other.
Learning from the Prophetic Example
Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) exemplified the highest form of gratitude, both in ease and adversity. Despite facing countless trials, including intense persecution, battles and personal losses, he consistently expressed gratitude to Allah (swt). Seeing him pray until his feet became swollen, his wife Ayesha (RA) once asked him why he prayed so much even though his past and future sins were forgiven.
He replied: “Should I not be a grateful servant?”
أفلا أكون عبدًا شكورًا؟
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]
The Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) response is a profound and beautiful expression of humility and deep gratitude. Despite being the Best of Creation, he still saw himself as a servant (abd) of Allah (swt). Instead of easing up in his worship, genuine thankfulness moved him to deepen his devotion and draw closer to Allah (swt). He showed us how true gratitude or shukr is a deep feeling that manifests in our actions. It is an act of worship (ibadah) that brings us closer to God.
Shukr as a Path to Divine Increase and Inner Peace
Allah (swt) says in the Quran:
“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)
Allah (swt) promises us increase if we are grateful. Thankfulness here includes making proper use of the blessings we are gifted with and not using them in acts of disobedience. Not being thankful for Allah’s blessings means covering and denying them.
The increase, scholars say, can be in the amount of blessings, or their continuity. The increase can also be immaterial. It can be experienced as subtle but impactful blessings in the form of barakah (Divine Grace), inner strength, knowledge, peace. It can be in the form of redirection from states of darkness and misguidance into light.
Shukr allows the believer to experience a kind of deep-rooted peace and joy. When a person’s heart is rooted in thankfulness towards Allah (swt) , the heart fills with inner abundance and goodness. There is a feeling of expansiveness. Sacred gratitude is a form of surrender and alignment with Divine Will, as it’s an acknowledgement that everything you have, whether good or challenging, is from Allah (swt). A gratitude mindset, by nurturing and stabilizing the soul, provides spiritual grounding. This shields a person’s soul from descending into overwhelming despair, fear or grief.
A gratitude mindset, by nurturing and stabilizing the soul, provides spiritual grounding. This shields a person’s soul from descending into overwhelming despair, fear or grief.
Acknowledging Others Strengthens Relationships
In Islam, gratitude isn’t limited to thanking Allah (swt), it also includes appreciating the people around us.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah.”
[Reported by Abu Dawud]
This hadith reminds us that expressing gratitude to others isn’t merely a polite social custom but carries spiritual significance. Thanking people reflects an awareness of how Allah (swt) has blessed us through the kindness and support of those around us and is ultimately an expression of thankfulness to Him.
Acknowledging the efforts, kindness, and contributions of others strengthens our relationships by making people feel seen, valued, and respected. It nurtures humility by reminding us of our interdependence and the fact that no one succeeds alone. Gratitude promotes a culture of kindness and mutual care, helping to build a more compassionate, conscious, and connected community. When people feel appreciated and supported, their overall well-being and sense of belonging increase, lifting the emotional and spiritual health of the society as a whole.
Gratitude or Shukr is like a light we allow into our lives by which we reveal and make visible a blessing. By feeling it in our heart, actively acknowledging and openly expressing it through words, actions or our character we turn what is good into lasting inner abundance.
P.S: Feel free to share your feedback at inopendialogue [at] gmail [dot] com. In the next article in the series I plan to explore ways to hold on to gratitude even when we are struggling or going through hardships. How do you practice gratitude in difficult times? What are some things you’d like me address? Your voice could help shape the next article.
