Attacks of Gratitude 

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[27:40] The one who possessed knowledge from the book said, “I can bring it to you in the blink of your eye.” When he saw it settled in front of him, he said, “This is a blessing from my Lord, whereby He tests me, to show whether I am appreciative or unappreciative. Whoever is appreciative is appreciative for his own good, and if one turns unappreciative, then my Lord is in no need for him, Most Honorable.”

We are in this world to see if we will work righteousness.

[11:7] He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days―and His (earthly) domain was completely covered with water―in order to test you, to distinguish those among you who work righteousness. ...

Righteousness Defined

[2:177] Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and they keep their word whenever they make a promise;

and they steadfastly persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful; these are the righteous.

47:2 makes a connection between working righteousness and being blessed with contentment.

[47:2] Those who believe and work righteousness, and believe in what was sent down to Muhammad―which is the truth from their Lord―He remits their sins, and blesses them with contentment.

There’s a website, “gratefulness.org”, and one of the founders, a Christian monk, says that to be happy we must be actively grateful or appreciative. The idea is that being appreciative in both words & deeds triggers happiness. There’s research also that shows giving to charity triggers happiness. In the Quran we find that it’s that and much more. Appreciativeness is closely linked to being a submitter. A submitter will be appreciative of God and work righteousness. And it takes being appreciative to be a submitter.

[16:120] Abraham was indeed an exemplary vanguard in his submission to GOD, a monotheist who never worshiped idols. [16:121] Because he was appreciative of His Lord’s blessings, He chose him and guided him in a straight path.

[31:12] We have endowed Luqmãn with wisdom: “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.

[31:13] Recall that Luqmãn said to his son, as he enlightened him, “O my son, do not set up any idols beside GOD; idolatry is a gross injustice.”

Any type of idol-worship means we are not truly appreciative of God and all that God in His Grace and Mercy has given us—including this life as a chance to redeem ourselves. “Every moment is a gift to appreciate, because it is given to you, you don’t give it or control it; nor do you know if you will have more.” (Gratefulness.org) And that’s a good reminder: we should try our best to appreciate God now, because procrastinating on appreciation (or righteousness), is being unappreciative of that moment God gave us to remember and appreciate Him.

[14:7] Your Lord has decreed: “The more you thank Me, the more I give you.” But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.

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

Am I there yet? Am I in that blissful state of submission and appreciation every moment no matter if something “nice” or “annoying” happens? No, I slip up and need to ask forgiveness on a regular basis. But I know it’s worth the work it will take because of how helpful “attacks of gratitude” can be. Appreciation grows our soul in submission to God. And submission leads to happiness!

Faiz