﷽
If we are thankful, Allah will give us more and more of everything that we have
and even more. He will keep increasing us, and it will also be in the form of our
tranquility.
The attached ayah has always amazed me due to the "generosity
cycle" that our Generous Lord describes here and elsewhere. For example,
have you considered how He describes giving in His way as "a goodly loan"
مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًۭا كَثِيرَةًۭ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ٢٤٥
— M. Pickthall
(Al Baqarah:Ayat :245)
First He gives to us and allows us to enjoy what He gave, then only asks
us to give up a small amount – and then He calls this a loan which He will repay?!
SubhanAllah.
As for this ayah, He says: "If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more." More
of what? More of what you enjoyed and were grateful for, and whatever more He
wills.
Now what does it take to be counted as "grateful"? Scholars have often
explained shukr (or one of its manifestations) simply as using what Allah gave
you in a way that is pleasing to Him. How incredible, that we can simply enjoy the
good things of this world in a lawful way, and be counted among the shākirīn,
who are then deserving to be given more!
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن
كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ (٧)
“And [remember the time] when your Sustainer made [this promise]
known: 'If you are grateful [to Me], I shall most certainly give you more and
more; but if you are ungrateful, verily, My chastisement will be severe indeed!"
{Surah Ibrahim: Ayat 7)
