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GratitudeHow can I feel more gratitude towards my Sustainer?

How can gratitude transform my life?

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.. .. اكر�ين الش وس�نجزى يشكرون افالمن      وكن فاعبد الله بل كم  الزيدن ش�كرتم لئن

اكرين الش

Will they not then give thanks?(36:35, 73)And we shall surely reward those who give thanks.

(3:145)If you give thanks, I shall increase [my favors] to you.

(14:7)Worship God and be of those who give thanks.(39:66)

The most important result of the humanThe result of all creation

Gratitude

What is gratitude?

Dictionary: a feeling of being thankful to somebody for

doing something

There are 2 ways to looks at creation…

We make our choice,every moment we are created…

The Choice

Things bear meaning of

another

Things bear meaning in themselves

This conscious choice determines the magnitude of our gratitude

Things bear meaning of

another

Things bear meaning in themselves

Things bear meaning of

another

Things bear meaning in themselves

Where is the Sustainer in my mind and heart?

Things bear meaning of

another

Things bear meaning in themselves

How beautiful it has been made… How beautiful it is…

This choice makes all the difference…

Is what we have/own/are given or is it … just is?

  تكذبان كما رب آالء فباىSo which of the favors of your Sustainer do you

deny?(mentioned 31 times in the Compassionate

chapter of the Quran)

If you want to feel the love and compassion of your sustainer, then recognize His favors…

The more I realize the Real Giver of what I claim to be mine, the more I feel gratitude towards the Divine

My property

My abilities

My life

Everything

until nothing is left of me…

Who am I again?

Someone who has infinite taste buds!!

Why were these taste buds given?

To feel the Divine Loving Compassionate Presence through gratitude..

and discover my real humanity…

Gratitude is life transforming

Things bear meaning of

another

Things bear meaning in themselves

I am loved, I am being taken care of, I worth a lot!

I am by myself, life is dull, nobody loves me!

I am loved, I am being taken care of, I worth a lot!

Wow, thank you, thank you The One who is sustaining me through all the gifts I received…

Thank you my Sustainer, I love you, too! I adore you

Sustenance…Pleasure is either…

Divine GiftSomething I

have to grasp…

My senses are pleased…My heart is pleased much

more!

Only my senses are pleased, very temporarily… Then, there

is darkness!

Infinite real pleasure Temporary, limited pleasure

Things bear meaning of

another

Things bear meaning in themselves

Pleasure is either…

Gratitude comprises pure belief and a sincere affirmation of God’s unity.

When a person eats an apple and says, “Praise be to God!” is declaring through his thanks: “This apple is a

gift given directly by the Compassionate.”

By saying this and believing it, s/he is ascribing everything, particular and universal, to the One.

S/he recognizes the reflection of the Compassionate in everything.

Gratitude is recognition that we are guests in this universe of the Loving Compassionate…

Maximizing gratitude lies in asking the host how to approach his sustenance.

  تكذبان كما رب آالء فباىSo which of the favors of your Sustainer do you

deny?(Compassion chapter of the Quran)

If you want to feel the love and compassion of your sustainer, then recognize His favors…

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…However, he who is grateful [to God] is but grateful for his own good; and he who is ungrateful [should know that], verily, my

Sustainer is self-sufficient, most generous in giving!” (27:40)

In conclusion…

Gratitude is the most essential tool to feel and experience the Divine Loving Presence…

The way to increase gratitude lies in recognizing our need/dependence towards the Divine (and

his all-encompassing loving compassion)

How can gratitude transform our daily lives?