The Power Of Gratitude: How Thankfulness Brings Divine Increase - Maulana Syed Muhammad Rizvi

Friday Juma KhutbaOctober 10th, 2025- Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October.- Gratitude is part of human nature and is emphasized repeatedly in the Qur’an.- Allah commands humans to remember and thank Him for all blessings and sustenance.- Gratitude must be expressed for both material and spiritual blessings, as all provisions ultimately trace back to Allah.- Prophet Sulaymān’s prayer shows the importance of asking Allah for the ability to be thankful.- We are commanded to thank not only Allah but also those who serve as means for His blessings, such as parents and others who help us.- The Imams teach that one who fails to thank people has not truly thanked Allah.- Every blessing involves a chain of contributors—from human labor to natural forces—ending with Allah as the true source.- Humanity benefits from Allah’s subjugation of nature (taskhīr): water, wind, sun, technology, and space travel are signs for those who reflect and use reason.- Spiritual blessings, such as guidance through the wilāyah of Imam ‘Ali (a), are among the greatest favors to be thankful for.- Communal opportunities like Friday prayers also warrant gratitude—to builders, managers, and volunteers—rather than harshness when mistakes occur.- Thankfulness benefits the individual, not Allah, as gratitude brings personal growth and divine increase in blessings.- Allah promises: if you are thankful, He will increase His blessings; if you are ungrateful, punishment is severe.- Imam Ja‘far al-Ṣādiq (a) explains that one who is granted thankfulness is also granted increase, fulfilling Allah’s promise.- Imam ‘Ali (a) teaches that Allah never opens the door of gratitude without also opening the door of increase, just as He never opens repentance without forgiveness or reliance without provision.- True shukr (gratitude) has three dimensions: (a) Tongue — saying “al-ḥamdulillāh.” (b) Heart — recognizing the blessing as from Allah. (c) Limbs — using the blessing in obedience to Allah.Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)