November 2011: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 2

What are we thankful for

Cont’d from page 1

And then there’s the great blessing of the messengers. God didn’t have to send messengers to help us stay on His path, but He did.

[2:151] (Blessings) such as the sending of a messenger from among you to recite our revelations to you, purify you, teach you the scripture and wisdom, and to teach you what you never knew.  This includes Dr. Khalifa and the wonderful translation of the Quran that makes it easier for us to understand and follow God’s guidance. And of course, it includes the Quran itself, which is a guide and a healing and a mercy.

Another seldom seen blessing is God’s protection.

[5:11] O you who believe, remember GOD's blessings upon you; when some people extended their hands to aggress against you, He protected you and withheld their hands. You shall observe GOD; in GOD the believers shall trust.

Praise God, we don’t have to physically fight or face physical aggression, but I think we want to be thankful for His protection every day. Most often we aren’t even aware that we’ve been protected. But sometimes we see the car accident happen and realize that if we’d left five minutes earlier, that might have been us. God is in full control of everything on earth; only with His protection can we survive. We need to appreciate this blessing.

[2:152] You shall remember Me, that I may remember you, and be thankful to Me; do not be unappreciative.

Remembering God should be an everyday occurrence. Throughout each and every day, appreciating His blessings and commemorating His name should be a priority. Thanksgiving Day is just another excuse to be thankful

and reflect on all of God’s great gifts to each one of us. We will be questioned on the Day of Resurrection about all our blessings (102:8). If we take them for granted here, we won’t be eligible to enjoy the true blessings of the Hereafter with God.

[27:19] …"My Lord, direct me to be appreciative of the blessings You have bestowed upon me and my parents, and to do the righteous works that please You. Admit me by Your mercy into the company of Your righteous servants."

[16:114] Therefore, you shall eat from GOD's provisions everything that is lawful and good, and be appreciative of GOD's blessings, if you do worship Him alone.

[31:12] … "You shall be appreciative of GOD." Whoever is appreciative is appreciative for his own good. As for those who turn unappreciative, GOD is in no need, Praiseworthy.

[39:66] Therefore, you shall worship GOD alone, and be appreciative.

Lydia

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More verses on thankfulness and being  appreciative

[14:34]  And He gives you all kinds of things that you implore Him for. If you count GOD's blessings, you can never encompass them. Indeed, the human being is transgressing, unappreciative.

[16:18]  If you count GOD's blessings, you cannot possibly encompass them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

[4:147]  What will GOD gain from punishing you, if you became appreciative and believed? GOD is Appreciative, Omniscient.

[7:10]  We have established you on earth, and we have provided for you the means of support therein. Rarely are you appreciative.

 

[16:78]  GOD brought you out of your mothers' bellies knowing nothing, and He gave you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains, that you may be appreciative.

[23:78]  He is the One who granted you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains. Rarely are you appreciative.

[25:62]  He is the One who designed the night and the day to alternate: a sufficient proof for those who wish to take heed, or to be appreciative.

[27:73]  Your Lord is full of grace towards the people, but most of them are unappreciative.

[30:46]  Among His proofs is that He sends the winds with good omen, to shower you with His mercy, and to allow the ships to run in the sea in accordance with His rules, and for you to seek His bounties (through commerce), that you may be appreciative.

[31:14]  We enjoined the human being to honor his parents. His mother bore him, and the load got heavier and heavier. It takes two years (of intensive care) until weaning. You shall be appreciative of Me, and of your parents. To Me is the ultimate destiny.

[39:7]  If you disbelieve, GOD does not need anyone. But He dislikes to see His servants make the wrong decision. If you decide to be appreciative, He is pleased for you. No soul bears the sins of any other soul. Ultimately, to your Lord is your return, then He will inform you of everything you had done. He is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.

[67:23]  Say, "He is the One who initiated you, and granted you the hearing, the eyes, and the brains. Rarely are you appreciative."

[76:3]  We showed him the two paths, then he is either appreciative, or unappreciative.

[80:17]  Woe to the human being; he is so unappreciative!

[100:6]  The human being is unappreciative of his Lord.