Islam and Gratitude

· The meaning of Alhamdulillah

§ All praise be to the Lord

§ We say it after anything we need to be happy or grateful for

· How are you doing, when we sneeze (our heart stops)

· Everything around us is a blessing

§ From the moment you wake up any and everything is a blessing

· Clothes, Food, Air, Education, Opportunities, Jobs, Health

· Gratitude

§ Expressing gratitude is a choice, just like forgiveness

· Everything to gain, nothing to lose in this choice

§ Surah Luqman (31:12)

· “Be grateful to Allah.  And whoever is grateful, he is only grateful for his own soul; and whoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is Self-sufficient, Praised.

· Depression

§ Very common with our age range

§ We forget about what we have, and think about what we want

§ Our spirits become weak, we need to strengthen our Iman

§ Think about others who live in substandard homes and eat malnutrious food. 

§ Heeding in Allah and heeding in your brothers and sisters is best cure

· The power of prayers

· Best Cure = Gratitude

· Make a journal of all the things you are grateful of, it will be endless

· How to show gratitude

§ Charity (A Pillar In Islam)

· Donations

· Good Deeds

§ Optimism

· Make the smallest excuse to try to smile

o Psychologically proven to increase happiness (FIND OUT)

§ Recollections

· We are blessed for so much, love the creator for his tremendous work

· Think of those less fortunate, imagine self in their shoes

· What not to do

§ Whining

· Surah Luqman (31:34)

o “No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, nor does that person know in what land he will die”

o Our creator has determined our provisions, whining won’t help

§ Stress

· “God will never burden you with more than what you can handle.”

· Heed this advice for the upcoming semesters to fight depression and stress

· Last Point

§ We are blessed to live in a non muslim society

· Islam is not taken for granted, it is not the norm of this culture

· We can learn of other religions and we have the opportunity to introduce Islam to a non Muslim community

Love the creator and love him for the blessings he has given us in this temporary life.  For it is our love of him and not the love of his creations which will include us all in heaven for the after life. 

Oh Allah, I thank You for this day.  I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. 

Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.

I ask YOU now for Your forgiveness.  Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.

Help me to start this day with and w attitude and plenty of gratitude

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.

Let me continue to see sin through YOUR eyes and acknowledge it as evil.

And when I sin, let me repent, and receive YOUR forgiveness. 

Continue to pursue me to do Your will.  Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. 

Keep me strong so that I may help the weak.

Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. 

I make DUA for those that are lost and can’t find their way.

I make DUA for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.

I make DUA for those who don’t know YOU intimately.

I make DUA for those that don’t believe.  But I thank you that I believe. 

I believe that Allah changes people and Allah changes things. 

I make DUA for all my sisters and brothers.  For each and every family member in their households. 

I make DUA for peace, love, and joy in their homes that they care out of debt and all their needs are met.

I make DUA that every eye that reads this, every ear that hears this, knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than Allah. 

I make DUA that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them every ear that hears this, and every mouth that confesses it willingly.

This is my DUA.  INSHA-ALLAH.  AMEEN. 

Wa Aqeema Salat