Assalamu Alaikum my dear,

Sometimes, when I pause and reflect, I’m overwhelmed by how much Allah subuhanawut’ala has blessed me. I have so much to be grateful for—yet, I still find myself struggling, worrying, and feeling weighed down at times.

And then, I look around at the world and realize how many are facing far greater hardships. It makes me question—am I truly appreciating the blessings I have?

This thought lingers in my heart—if I truly recognize the blessings around me, why do I still feel like I’m falling short? Am I truly living a life of gratitude? Am I being as thankful to Allah subuhanawut’ala as He deserves? Am I showing my gratitude through my actions, not just my words?

Gratitude, as Ibn Al-Qayyim defines it, is not just a fleeting feeling—it is a way of life. He explains that shukr is manifested through:

1. The heart, by feelings of humility and submission to Allah.
2. The tongue, through verbal acknowledgment and praising Him.
3. Actions, by using the blessings He has given in ways that please Him.

He goes on to say that gratitude is built upon five pillars:

• Submitting to Allah subuhanawut’ala wholeheartedly.
• Loving Him for the blessings He bestows.
• Acknowledging His favors with sincerity.
• Constantly praising and thanking Him.
• Not using His blessings in ways that displease Him.

So, I ask myself again—am I being grateful? Truly grateful? Because gratitude is not just saying Alhamdulillah; it’s proving Alhamdulillah with my life. It’s striving, to the best of my ability, to ensure that I don’t use the blessings He has given me in a way that displeases Him.

And when I look within, I see so much room for improvement. There are moments I hesitate, moments I fall short, moments I know I could do more to please Him. I wonder—am I truly using His blessings in the way He intended? And then I questioned myself—perhaps my effort to improve is a way of honoring the blessings Allah subuhanawut’ala has given me.

But I realized something important—gratitude is not just about effort, it’s about alignment. Aligning my heart, my actions, and my intentions with what truly pleases Him.

Gratitude isn't just about striving to improve; it’s about recognizing that our efforts must be guided by the consciousness of Allah subuhanawut’ala. If I keep pushing forward without real mindfulness, am I truly being grateful, or am I just running in circles? 

True gratitude is not just effort; it is ensuring that my actions align with His pleasure.

This made me realize—true gratitude isn’t measured by how much we do, but by how sincerely we do it for His sake. My pursuit of WELL—Worship, Energy, Love, and Legacy—shouldn’t just be about self-improvement, but about deepening my connection with Him.

So, I ask myself—am I living in a way that truly reflects gratitude? Am I mindful of how I use my blessings, or am I just busy chasing improvement without reflection? The real question is—am I striving out of love and gratitude for Him, or am I simply chasing self-improvement for its own sake?

True gratitude means recognizing that every effort, every step forward, is not just for my own progress, but a means to seek His pleasure.

There are days when I feel overwhelmed by my shortcomings, when I recognize the gap between who I am and who I want to be, and it weighs heavily on me. I struggle with consistency, with self-discipline, with truly embodying the gratitude I know I should have.

However, I do recognize that as humans, struggle is an inevitable part of our journey in this world. It is through these very struggles that we learn, grow, and draw closer to Allah subuhanawut’ala.

You and I—we are not alone in this. Every single one of us faces challenges, moments of doubt, and feelings of inadequacy. The nature of our struggles may differ, the intensity may vary, but at the core of it all, we are human. And to be human means to struggle.

But here’s the hope: our struggles are not in vain. It is through them that we find our true path to salvation, our true closeness to Allah subuhanawut’ala.

Allah subuhanawut’ala is not judging us by our results; He is looking at our efforts, our sincerity, our striving. He sees the battles we fight within ourselves, the moments we push through when giving up seems easier.

So, my dear, keep going. Keep striving. Keep pushing forward.

Because He will make ways for you from places you never imagined possible. And on top of that, He subuhanawut’ala promises to increase goodness, for He says in the Quran, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you.' (Surah Ibrahim 14:7).

Isn't striving, then, a way of showing gratitude to Him?

With love and gratitude,

Rushdhi

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