Parable of a thankful person

Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said: A man was blessed with magnificent wealth of the world and then he lost it all. He then began to praise Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. The only thing he was left with was a mat to lie on, yet he continued to praise Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Another rich man said to the man with the mat, ‘Now what are you thanking Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for?’ He replied, ‘I thank Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for the blessings that I won’t get even for the price of all the wealth of the world.’ The man enquired, ‘What is that?’ He responded, ‘Do you not see your eyes, tongue, hands and feet (as these are also great blessings of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ)?’

(Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 4, pp. 112, Hadees 4462)

Dear Islamic brothers! From the above-mentioned parable, we have learnt that one should not only thank Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ when we gain wealth or happiness, but we should thank Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in every circumstance. On the contrary, regretfully we express thanks to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for wealth and happiness, but when a little trouble affects us, in the form of an illness or becoming poor, then we start complaining. If a man ponders over himself, he will find thousands of blessings that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has granted him. If he continues to thank Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for these blessings throughout his life, even then it is insufficient. Indeed! As a matter of fact, if a man is given the whole wealth of this universe and is deprived of the blessings like hands, legs, eyes and ears, he will then realize the importance of these blessings.

We do not even direct our attention to showing gratitude to these blessings of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. The great blessing of our eyes can be understood if we ask a blind person. The great blessing of a tongue can be understood if we ask someone who is dumb. In short, our entire body is the centre of blessings of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, even the saliva we have in our mouths, that we consider filthy, is also a great blessing. The importance of the saliva can be asked from the person who produces less saliva than is required. It is not sufficient to thank Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for parts of our body just by saying: Thanks to Allah Almighty! Listen to a parable regarding ‘how should He عَزَّوَجَلَّ be thanked’.