When it comes to matters of faith, the most important duty for every Muslim parent is instilling a love of Allah in our children. By nature, human beings possess an inclination toward the worship of a supreme creator, and parents play a pivotal role in nurturing this instinct. Islam teaches that our whole purpose of existence is to worship the one Creator, Allah. We do this by acknowledging His commandments and following the guidance He sent by way of messengers and scripture. Through our example and relationship with Allah, we teach our children the necessary behavior and acts of worship that will eventually become habits. These daily practices form the foundation for an Islamic lifestyle – one that is centered on faith and gratitude.
One necessary characteristic of a believing servant is expressing thankfulness. Allah says in the Quran:
“So, remember Me, I will remember you. Be thankful to Me and do not be ungrateful.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:152)
To teach our children how to thank Allah, we must first teach them why we need to thank Him. That is the easy part. There are tangible examples that we can offer young children so they can fully understand the magnitude of blessings we receive on a daily basis:
- We know He created us, this world, our loved ones, the things we enjoy like nature, sustenance, and other beautiful things.
- We must thank Allah for our lives, our bodies, the breaths we take effortlessly, our five senses, our possessions, and our ability to function normally.
- We acknowledge Him for everything good and even the seemingly bad because we know that good eventually comes out of even the worst situations.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Wondrous is the affair of the believer for there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If he is happy, then he thanks Allah and thus there is good for him, and if he is harmed, then he shows patience and thus there is good for him.” (Sahih Muslim)
Once we explain the numerous reasons we should express our gratitude to Allah, our Creator and Sustainer, then we have to talk about how we thank Allah. It may seem that Allah is so much greater than ourselves that our thanks are meaningless in light of His might and glory. However, we should tell our children to never feel worthless or fearful of Allah because, despite His infinite power, He is the Most Merciful and the Most Compassionate. Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His book with Him upon the Throne: ‘Verily, My mercy prevails over My wrath.’”
(Sahih Bukhari)
Thus, the first thing that children should know is that to thank Allah, we should know Him. After we have gotten to know him, there are many other ways that we can show thanks.
By believing in Him. H3 Header
Number one on the list of ways we thank Allah is by believing in Him as our Lord and worshipping him properly. Two short surahs, or chapters in the Quran, that can drive this point home easily for children are:
1. Surah Al-Fatihah or The Opening, Chapter 1
“In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. It is You we worship, and upon You we call for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those You have blessed, not of those against whom there is anger, nor of those who are misguided.”
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, called these the seven oft-repeated verses and the “mother” or “substance” of the Quran. They summarize the belief of a Muslim and the proper etiquette with which we should address Allah, by first praising Him, recognizing His might, and asking for His guidance.
2. Surah Al-Asr or The Time, Chapter 103
“By Time. The human being is in loss. Except those who believe, and do good works, and encourage truth, and recommend patience.”
The keyword here is “except;” once we understand who the losers are we can begin to know how we can be winners. Allah is telling us in these three verses that to take full advantage of our time, we must first believe, and then follow that up with righteous actions. Who gave us this time? Allah did, so we must honor and thank Him by doing what pleases Him. These are all simple concepts that even young children can understand.
By just saying it!
How do we thank Allah? Well, just by saying thank you. It can be that easy. Through prayer, dua, and dhikr (remembrance), we thank Allah every day. If we are trying our best to pray our five daily prayers on time, only turning to Allah when we are in need, calling upon Him day and night, and constantly uttering praises for Allah, then we are showing our gratitude. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported:
“If the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saw something he liked, he would say, ‘All praise is due to Allah, by whose favor good deeds are accomplished.’ If the Prophet saw something he disliked, he would say, ‘All praise is due to Allah in every circumstance.’”
(Sunan Ibn Majah)
Likewise, Abu Sa’id, may Allah be pleased with him, reported when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ate or drank, he would say:
“All praise is due to Allah who has fed us, given us drink, and has made us Muslims.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi)
We certainly have so many things to be grateful for and there are many similar supplications the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, recommended for every kind of circumstance like upon waking, before eating, after a meal, when getting dressed, and while traveling. Explore the Seerah and the books of hadith to learn about all the duas the Prophet taught that we can use to express our gratitude.
By being grateful, and never ungrateful.
There is a verse in the Quran in which Allah makes a promise to His servants that is both beautiful and stern. He says:
“And ˹remember˺ when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’”
(Surah Ibraheem, 14:7)
Expressing gratitude to Allah can help us earn endless rewards, but the opposite can guarantee a lifetime of grief. Why be ungrateful, when simply thanking Allah will multiply our blessings? One good habit to put into practice is to remind yourself of the good things in your life and whisper a word of thanks to Allah every day. If you have a hard time recognizing Allah’s favors, then think about those less fortunate. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Look at those below you and do not look at those above you, for it is the best way not to belittle the favors of Allah.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
By reading and reflecting on the Quran.
The Quran is Allah’s gift to us – a source of guidance that helps Muslims navigate through life's challenges. It is also a vehicle of communication that deepens the spiritual connection between the believer and his Lord. Reading the Quran and reflecting on its verses helps us to know Allah, what He expects of us, and how we can show our gratitude. By engaging with its verses, we reflect on the signs of Allah in creation and within ourselves. This reflection fosters a greater sense of appreciation for the blessings bestowed by Allah, leading to gratitude.
Additionally, we learn about the fate of the disbelievers and those who are ungrateful. Addressing the idolaters during the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, Allah says:
“He is the One Who created for you hearing, sight, and intellect. ˹Yet˺ you hardly give any thanks.”
(Surah Al-Muminum, 23:78)
We want to be on Allah’s good side, not like the idolaters and people of the past who disobeyed Him and earned His wrath. To ensure we remain favored then we should be steadfast in giving thanks.
By following the Sunnah.
Another important way that we thank Allah is by following the example of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Allah sent him as a guide for all mankind and He gave him some valuable instructions in the Quran that we should know. He said:
“Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If you ˹sincerely˺ love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
(Surah Al-Imran, 3:31)
When Allah tells the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to say something, that message is meant for us – his followers. If we love Allah and want to show our gratitude, then our job is to obey the messenger that was sent. To ignore him and his teachings would be disregarding Allah’s favor and showing ungratefulness.
By thanking people.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud)
One of the most considerable ways we can thank Allah is by being grateful to others. We should thank our parents, relatives, friends, neighbors, and even strangers who show us kindness. In this manner, we are acknowledging Allah’s favors, as well, because ultimately, He is the turner of the hearts and the One who facilitated their benevolence.
The extent of Allah’s favors is truly beyond human comprehension. Allah says in the Quran:
“… And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them.”
(Surah Ibraheem, 14:34)
As Muslims, we are dutybound to continuously reflect on the wonderful blessings Allah bestows upon us, so we can remain in a constant state of humility and gratitude. In the face of adversity and hardship, we find remarkable individuals who, despite enduring unimaginable trials, continue to express gratitude to Allah. In war-torn regions and areas plagued by poverty, where daily life is a struggle for survival, there are those who, with unwavering faith, find solace in praising the Creator. These resilient souls have lost loved ones, possessions, and even limbs, yet they inspire us with their ability to see the good amid ruins. Their profound gratitude serves as a poignant reminder that, regardless of our circumstances, we should strive to maintain a perspective that transcends difficulties. Our aspirations for ourselves and our families should mirror the resilience of these individuals, fostering a spirit of gratitude that endures through both ease and hardship, allowing us to appreciate the blessings that persist, no matter the challenges we face.
Wendy Díaz is a Puerto Rican Muslim writer, award-winning poet, translator, and mother of six (ages ranging from infant to teen). She is the co-founder of Hablamos Islam, a non-profit organization that produces educational resources about Islam in Spanish (hablamosislam.org). She has written, illustrated, and published over a dozen children’s books and currently lives with her family in Maryland. Follow Wendy Díaz on social media @authorwendydiaz and @hablamosislam.
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