Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Gratitude And The Grateful

Gratitude and the grateful-الشُّكر والشاكر

  1. Gratitude is one of the two rewards.

1ـ اَلشُّكْرُ أحَدُ الجَزائَيْن.

  1. Gratitude for blessings is a recompense for its past and a source of its [increase in the] future.

2ـ اَلشُّكْرُ عَلَى النِّعْمَةِ جَزاءٌ لِماضِيها، واجْتِلابٌ لآتيها.

  1. Gratitude has greater value than a good action because the gratitude lasts while the good action comes to an end.

3ـ اَلشُّكْرُ أعْظَمُ قَدْراً مِنَ المَعْرُوفِ، لأنَّ الشُّكْرَ يَبْقى

والمََعْرُوفَ يَفْنى.

  1. Be grateful and you will increase.

4ـ أُشْكُرْ تَزِدْ.

  1. Continue being grateful and the blessing upon you will continue.

5ـ اِسْتَدِمِ الشُّكْرَ، تَدُمْ عَلَيْكَ النِّعْمَةُ.

  1. Occupy yourself in being grateful for the blessing rather than being delighted by it.

6ـ اِشْتَغِلْ بِشُكْرِ النِّعْمَةِ عَنِ التَّطَرُّبِ بِها.

  1. Look frequently at those over whom you have been given superiority, for verily this is one of the gates [and means] of gratitude.

7ـ أكْثِرِ النَّظَرَ إلى مَنْ فُضِّلْتَ عَلَيْهِ، فَإنَّ ذلِكَ مِنْ

أبْوابِ الشُّكرِ.

  1. Be grateful to the one who favours you and favour the one who is grateful to you, for indeed there is no end to favours when they are appreciated and there is no continuation for them when they are unappreciated.

8ـ أُشْكُرْ مَنْ أنْعَمَ عَلَيْكَ، وأنْعِمْ على مَنْ شَكَرَكَ،

فَإنَّهُ لازَوالَ لِلنِّعْمَةِ إذا شُكِرَتْ، ولابَقاءَ لَها إذا كُفِرَتْ.

  1. Let the recompense for the blessing which has come upon you be the showing of goodness to one who wrongs you.

9ـ اِجْعَلْ جَزاءَ النِّعْمَةِ عَلَيْكَ الاَحْسانَ إلى مَنْ أساءَ

إلَيْكَ.

  1. Be good neighbours to the blessings of religion and this world by showing gratitude to the one who guides you to them.

10ـ أحْسِنُوا جُوارَ نِعَمِ الدّينِ والدُّنيا بِالشُّكْرِ لِمَنْ دَلَّ

(دَلَّكُم)عَلَيْها.

  1. Take advantage of gratitude, for the least of its benefits is increment [of blessings].

11ـ اِغْتَنِمُوا الشُّكْرَ، فَأدْنى نَفْعِهِ الزِّيادَةُ.

  1. The best thing that spoken loudly [in order that others may hear] is the gratitude that is publicized.

12ـ أحْسَنُ السُّمْعَةِ شُكْرٌ يُنْشَرُ.

  1. The best gratitude for blessings is favoring others with them.

13ـ أحْسَنُ شُكْرِ النِّعَمِ اَلإنْعامُ بِها.

  1. The most deserving of those to whom you do good is the one who does not disregard your good turn.

14ـ أحَقُّ مَنْ بَرِرْتَ مَنْ لايَغْفُلُ بِرَّكَ.

  1. The most deserving of your gratitude is the one who does not prevent you from acquiring more.

15ـ أحقُّ مَنْ شَكَرْتَ مَنْ لايَمْنَعُ مَزيدَكَ.

  1. The first thing that is incumbent upon you with regards to Allah, the Glorified, is being grateful for His blessings and seeking His pleasure.

16ـ أوَّلُ ما يَجِبُ عَلَيْكُمْ لِلّهِ سُبْحانَهُ شُكْرُ أياديِهِ،

وابْتِغاءُ مَراضيهِ.

  1. The most effective thing that makes a blessing last longer is gratitude and the greatest thing by which tribulations are overcome is patience.

17ـ أبْلَغُ ما تُسْتَمَدُّ بِهِ النِّعْمَةُ الشُّكْرُ، وأعْظَمُ ما

تَمَحَّصَ بِهِ المِحْنَةُ الصَّبْرُ.

  1. The most deserving of people for an increase in blessing is the most grateful of them for what he has been granted of it.

18ـ أحَقُّ النّاسِ بِزيادَةِ النِّعْمَةِ، أشْكَرُهُمْ لِما أُعْطِيَ

مِنْها.

  1. The most beloved of people to Allah, the Glorified, is the one who deals gratefully with the blessings that have been bestowed upon him and the most hated of them to Him is the one who deals ungratefully with His blessings.

19ـ أحَبُّ النّاسِ إلَى اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ العامِلُ فيما أنْعَمَ بِهِ

عَلَيْهِ بِالشُّكْرِ، وَأبْغَضُهُمْ إلَيْهِ اَلعامِلُ في نِعَمِهِ بِكُفْرِها.

  1. No one acquires gratitude except by giving [generously] from his wealth.

20ـ لايَحُوزُ الشُّكْرَ إلاّ مَنْ بَذَلَ مالَهُ.

  1. Verily in every blessing there is a right of gratitude to Allah, the Most High, so whoever fulfils it, He increases it for him and whoever does not do so risks losing his blessing.

21ـ إنَّ لِلّهِ تعالى في كُلِّ نِعْمَة حَقّاً مِنَ الشُّكْرِ، فَمَنْ

أدّاهُ زادَهُ مِنْها، وَمَنْ قَصَّرَ عَنْهُ خاطَرَ بِزَوالِ نِعْمَتِهِ.

  1. Verily the servant is [always] between blessing and sin, [and] nothing rectifies [or improves] them except repentance and gratitude.

22ـ إنَّ العَبْدَ بَيْنَ نِعْمَة وذَنْب لايُصْلِحُهُما إلاّ

الاِسْتِغْفارُ وَالشُّكْرُ.

  1. Gratitude is [a means of] increment.

23ـ اَلشُّكْرُ زيادَةٌ.

  1. Gratitude is obligatory.

24ـ اَلشُّكْرُ مَفْرُوضٌ.

  1. Gratitude is advantageous.

25ـ اَلشُّكْرُ مَغْنَمٌ.

  1. Gratitude causes blessings to flow forth abundantly.

26ـ اَلشُّكْرُ يُدِرُّ(بَذْرُ) النِّعَمَ.

  1. Gratitude is an embellishment for blessing[s].

27 ـ اَلشُّكْرُ زينَةٌ لِلنَّعْماءِ.

  1. Gratitude is the fortress of blessings.

28ـ اَلشُّكْرُ حِصْنُ النِّعَمِ.

  1. Showing [one’s] affluence is from [the ways of showing] gratitude.[^1]

29ـ إظْهارُ الْغِنى مِنَ الشُّكْرِ.

  1. Gratitude is the interpreter of intention and the tongue of [one’s inner] conscience.

30ـ اَلشُّكْرُ تَرْجُمانُ النِّيَّةِ، ولِسانُ الطَّويَّةِ.

  1. Gratitude is the embellishment of comfort and the fortification of blessing.

31ـ اَلشُّكْرُ زينَةُ الرَّخاءِ، وحِصْنُ النَّعْماءِ.

  1. Gratitude is obligatory upon the people of blessings.

32ـ اَلشُّكْرُ مَأخُوذٌ عَلى أهْلِ النِّعَمِ.

  1. If Allah bestows you with a blessing then show gratitude.

33ـ إنْ أتاكُمُ اللّهُ بِنِعْمَة فَاشْكُرُوا.

  1. Verily it behooves those who have been protected [from sins] and have been favored with safety [from misdeeds] to take pity on sinners and other disobedient people; and to make the gratitude for their good state prevail over them and act as a barrier for them.

34ـ إنَّما يَنْبَغي لأهْلِ الْعِصْمَةِ والْمَصْنُوعِ إلَيْهِمْ فِي

السَّلامَةِ أنْ يَرْحَمُوا أهْلَ المَعْصِيَةِ والذُّنُوبِ، وأنْ يَكُونَ الشُّكْرُ على مُعافاتِهِمْ هُوَ الغالِبَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَالحاجِزَ لَهُمْ.

  1. When you are given, show gratitude.

35ـ إذا أُعْطِيتَ فَاشْكُرْ.

  1. When you do good to others with a blessing [that you have been bestowed with], then you have shown gratitude for it.

36ـ إذا أنْعَمْتَ بِالنِّعْمَةِ فَقَدْ قَضَيْتَ شُكْرَها.

  1. When the edges of blessings reach you, then do not repel their peaks by lack of gratitude.

37ـ إذا وَصَلَتْ إلَيْكُمْ أطْرافُ النِّعَمِ فَلا تُنَفِّرُوا أقْصاها

بِقِلَّةِ الشُّكْرِ.

  1. Through gratitude, blessing lasts.

38ـ بِالشُّكْرِ تَدُومُ النِّعْمَةُ.

  1. Through gratitude, more is obtained.

39ـ بِالشُّكْرِ تُسْتَجْلَبُ الزِّيادَةُ.

  1. The fruit of gratitude is increase in blessings.

40ـ ثَمَرَةُ الشُّكْرِ زيادَةُ النِّعَمِ.

  1. Showing gratitude leads to increment.

41ـ حُسْنُ الشُّكْرِ يُوجِبُ الزِّيادَةَ.

  1. The best gratitude is that which warrants increase.

42ـ خَيْرُ الشُّكْرِ ما كانَ كافِلاً بِالمَزيدِ.

  1. Constant gratitude is the symbol of obtaining increment.

43ـ دَوامُ الشُّكْرِ عُنْوانُ دَرَكِ الزّيادَةِ.

  1. Increased gratitude and keeping ties with near relative’s increases sustenance and prolongs [one’s] life.

44ـ زِيادَةُ الشُّكْرِ وَصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ تَزيدانِ النِّعَمَ،

وتَفْسَحانِ فِي الأجَلِ.

  1. The cause of increment is gratitude.

45ـ سَبَبُ المَزيدِ الشُّكْرُ.

  1. Showing gratitude to your Lord is [done] through prolonged praise.

46ـ شُكْرُ إلهِكَ بِطُولِ الثَّناءِ.

  1. The gratitude of one who is above you is through true friendship and loyalty.

47ـ شُكْرُ مَنْ فَوْقَكَ بِصِدْقِ الوِلاءِ.

  1. The gratitude of your equal is through good brotherhood.

48ـ شُكْرُ نَظيرِكَ بِحُسْنِ الإخاءِ.

  1. The gratitude of one who is under you is through generous bestowal.

49ـ شُكْرُ مَنْ دُونَكَ بِسَيْبِ العَطاءِ.

  1. Showing gratitude for blessings is a protection from adversities.

50ـ شُكْرُ النِعَّمِ عِصْمَةٌ مِنَ النِّقَمِ.

  1. Gratitude to the Almighty brings forth abundant blessings.

51ـ شُكْرُ الإلهِ يُدِرُّ النِّعَمَ.

  1. Showing gratitude for blessings results in its increase and leads to its renewal.

52ـ شُكْرُ النِّعْمَةِ يَقْضي بِمَزيدِها، ويُوجِبُ تَجْديدَها.

  1. Gratitude for blessing is a safeguard from its alteration and a guarantee of its sustentation.

53ـ شُكْرُ النِّعْمَةِ أمانٌ مِنْ تَحْويلِها، وكَفيلٌ بِتَأييدِها.

  1. The gratitude of a believer is manifested in his action.

54ـ شُكْرُ المُؤْمِنِ يَظْهَرُ في عَمَلِهِ.

  1. The gratitude of a hypocrite does not surpass his tongue.

55ـ شُكْرُ المُنافِقِ لايَتَجاوَزُ لِسانَهُ.

  1. Gratitude for a past blessing results in the coming of renewed blessings.

56ـ شُكْرُ نِعْمَة سالِفَة يَقْضي بِتَجَدُّدِ نِعَم مُسْتَأنِفَة.

  1. Showing gratitude for blessings multiplies and increases them.

57ـ شُكْرُ النِّعَمِ يُضاعِفُها ويَزيدُها.

  1. Showing gratitude for blessings leads to its increase and showing ingratitude for it is evidence of its reduction.

58ـ شُكْرُ النِّعَمِ يُوجِبُ مَزيدَها،وَ كُفْرُها بُرْهانُ جُحُودِها.

  1. Gratitude for blessing is a safeguard from the coming of adversity.

59ـ شُكْرُ النِّعْمَةِ أمانٌ مِنْ حُلُولِ النَّقِمَةِ.

  1. The gratitude of a scholar for his knowledge is [in] his acting upon it and his sharing it with the one who deserves it.

60ـ شُكْرُ العالِمِ عَلى عِلْمِهِ عَمَلُهُ بِهِ وبَذْلُهُ

لِمُسْتَحَقِّهِ.

  1. Your gratitude to the one who is pleased with you increases [his] approval and loyalty (or preservation) towards you.

61ـ شُكْرُكَ لِلرّاضي عَنْكَ يَزيدُكَ رِضاً ووَفاءً(وَقاءً).

  1. Your gratitude to the one who is angry with you leads to reconciliation and his having a favorable disposition towards you.

62ـ شُكْرُكَ لِلْسّاخِطِ عَلَيْكَ يُوجِبُ لَكَ (مِنْهُ)صَلاحاً

وتَعَطُّفاً.

  1. He (‘a) said to a man whom he was congratulating for the birth of his son: You have occasion to be grateful to Allah, the Giver, and be blessed in the gift that you have been bestowed with. May he come of age and may you be blessed with his devotion.

63ـ وقالَ ـ عَليه السّلام ـ لِرَجُل هَنَّأَهُ بِوَلَد شَكَرْتَ

الواهِبَ وبُورِكَ لَكَ فِي المَوْهُوبِ، وَبَلَغَ أشُدَّهُ وَرُزِقْتَ بِرَّهُ.

  1. He who praises his benefactor and mentions him with goodness [and appreciation] has shown gratitude for [his] kindness.

64ـ شَكَرَ الإحْسانَ مَنْ أثْنى على مُسْديهِ وذَكَرَ بِالجَميلِ

مُولِيَهُ.

  1. You must give thanks [both] in ease and adversity.

65ـ عَلَيْكَ بِالشُّكْرِ فِي السَّـرّاءِ والضَّـرّاءِ.

  1. You must be constantly grateful and ever patient, for these two [qualities] increase blessing and remove tribulations.

66ـ عَلَيْكُمْ بِدَوامِ الشُّكْرِ، ولُزُومِ الصَّبْرِ، فَإنَّهُما

يَزيدانِ النِّعْمَةَ، وَيُزيلانِ المِحْنَةَ.

  1. In gratitude for blessings lies their continuity.

67ـ في شُكْرِ النِّعَمِ دَوامُها.

  1. In gratitude there is increase.

68ـ فِي الشُّكْرِ تَكُونُ الزّيادَةُ.

  1. Lack of gratitude removes the desire to do good deeds.

69ـ قِلَّةُ الشُّكْرِ تُزَهِّدُ فِي اصْطِناعِ المَعْرُوفِ.

  1. Bind the approaching blessings with gratitude, for not everything that escapers comes back.

70ـ قَيِّدُوا قَوادِمَ النِّعَمِ بِالشُّكْرِ، فَما كُلُّ شارِد

بِمَرْدُود.

  1. Gratitude is sufficient for increase.

71ـ كَفى بِالشُّكْرِ زيادَةً.

  1. The guarantor of increase is gratitude.

72ـ كافِلُ المَزيدِ الشُّكْرُ.

  1. Be occupied by gratitude for your good state and [your] safety from that which has afflicted others.

73ـ لِيَكُنِ الشُّكْرُ شاغِلاً لَكَ عَلى مُعافاتِكَ مِمَّا ابْتُلِيَ

بِهِ غَيْرُكَ.

  1. None is capable of fortifying blessings the way [showing] gratitude for them does.

74ـ لَنْ يَقْدِرَ أحَدٌ أنْ يُحَصِّنَ النِّعَمَ بِمِثْلِ شُكْرِها.

  1. If Allah, the Glorified, had not made a promise [to punish those who are disobedient], it would have still been obligatory not to disobey Him out of gratitude for His blessings.

75ـ لَوْ لَمْ يَتَواعَدِ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ لَوَجَبَ أنْ لا يُعْصى

شُكْراً لِنِعْمَتِهِ.

  1. One who shows gratitude deserves more.

76ـ مَنْ شَكَرَ اِسْتَحَقَّ الزِّيادَةَ.

  1. Whoever shows gratitude, his blessing lasts [longer].

77ـ مَنْ شَكَرَ دامَتْ نِعْمَتُهُ.

  1. One whose gratitude increases, his blessings multiply.

78ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ شُكْرُهُ تَضاعَفَتْ نِعَمُهُ.

  1. One who is inspired to show gratitude will not be deprived of increase.

79ـ مَنْ أُلْهِمَ الشُّكْرَ لَمْ يَعْدَمَ الزِّيادَةَ.

  1. One who does not show gratitude for a blessing is punished by its cessation.

80ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَشْكُرِ النِّعْمَةَ عُوقِبَ بِزَوالِها.

  1. One who continues showing gratitude makes the goodness [and blessing] last.

81ـ مَنْ أدامَ الشُّكْرَ اِسْتَدامَ البِرَّ.

  1. One who is bestowed with a blessing and gives thanks for it is like the one who is tried with difficulties and bears them patiently.

82ـ مَنْ أُنْعِمَ عَلَيْهِ فَشَكَرَ كَمَنِ ابْتُلِيَ فَصَبَـرَ.

  1. One who shows gratitude for [and act of] kindness has indeed fulfilled its right.

83ـ مَنْ شَكَرَ المَعْرُوفَ، فَقَدْ قَضى حَقَّهُ.

  1. When someone thanks you without [your having done him] a good turn, then do not consider yourself safe from his censure without any breach.

84ـ مَنْ شَكَرَكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ صَنيعَة فَلا تَأمَنْ ذَمَّهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ

قَطيعَة.

  1. Whoever thanks the one who favours him has indeed recompensed him.

85ـ مَنْ شَكَرَ مَنْ أنْعَمَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَدْ كافاهُ.

  1. One who does not show gratitude for favours should be counted [as being] from the livestock [rather than being human].

86ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَشْكُرِ الإنْعامَ فَلْـيُعَدَّ مِنَ الأنْعامِ.

  1. One who shows gratitude without any favor, censures without any wrongdoing?

87ـ مَنْ شَكَرَ عَلى غَيْرِ إحْسان ذَمَّ عَلى غَيْرِ اِساءَة.

  1. Whoever makes the effort to show concern for you, then make the effort to show him your gratitude?

88ـ مَنْ بَذَلَ لَكَ جُهْدَ عِنايَتِهِ فَابْذُلْ لَهُ جُهْدَ شُكْرِكَ.

  1. One who guards (or mixes) blessings with gratitude is surrounded by more [blessings].

89ـ مَنْ حاطَ(خَلَطَ) النِّعَمَ بِالشُّكْرِ حيطَ بِالمَزيدِ.

  1. One who does not begird [his] blessings by being grateful for them has indeed exposed them to cessation.

90ـ مَنْ لَمْ يُحِطِ النِّعَمَ بِالشُّكْرِ لَها فَقَدْ عَـرَّضَها

لِزَوالِها.

  1. Whoever thanks Allah, He increases [the blessings] for him.

91ـ مَنْ شَكَرَ اللّهَ زادَهُ.

  1. One who feels grateful for blessings in his heart deserves increase [even] before he manifests [the gratitude] on his tongue.

92ـ مَنْ شَكَرَ النِّعَمَ بِجِنانِهِ اِسْتَحَقَّ المَزيدَ قَبْلَ أنْ

يَظْهَرَ عَلى لِسانِهِ.

  1. One whose gratitude increases, his goodness [and blessing] increases.

93ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ شُكْرُهُ كَثُرَ خَيْرُهُ.

  1. One whose gratitude diminishes, his goodness [and blessing] comes to an end.

94ـ مَنْ قَلَّ شُكْرُهُ زالَ خَيْرُهُ.

  1. One who is granted a blessing has indeed been enslaved by it until he is freed by his show of gratitude for it.

95ـ مَنْ أُوتِيَ نِعْمَةً فَقَدِ اسْتُعْبِدَ بِها حَتّى يُعْتِقَةُ

القِيامُ بِشُكْرِها.

  1. One who thanks Allah, the Glorified, has to give thanks twice as it was He who enabled him to give thanks [in the first place] and that is the gratitude for being thankful.

96ـ مَنْ شَكَرَ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ وَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ شُكْـرَتانِ، إذ

وَفَّقَهُ لِشُكْرِهِ وهُوَ شُكْرُ الشُّكْرِ.

  1. One who shows gratitude to you for your kindness (or the kindness of someone else) has [actually] requested you [for something].

97ـ مَنْ شَكَرَ إَلَيْكَ مَعْرُوفَكَ (غَيْرَكَ) فَقَدْ سَألَكَ.

  1. One who does not show gratitude for blessing is deprived of more [blessings].

98ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَشْكُرِ النِّعْمَةَ مُنِعَ الزِّيادَةَ.

  1. Nothing fortifies blessings like gratitude.

99ـ ما حُصِّنَتِ النِّعَمُ بِمِثْلِ الشُّكْرِ.

  1. Nothing shows gratitude for favors like bestowing them on others.

100ـ ما شُكِرَتِ النِّعَمُ بِمِثْلِ بَذْلِها.

  1. Allah, the Glorified, does not open the door of gratitude for anyone and then close the door of increase [in blessings].

101ـ ما كانَ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ لِيَفْتَحَ عَلى أحَد بابَ الشُّكْرِ

ويُغْلِقَ عَلَيْهِ بابَ المَزيد.

  1. With gratitude blessings last [longer].

102ـ مَعَ الشُّكْرِ تَدُومُ النِّعْمَةُ.

  1. Do not forget to show your gratitude when you receive blessings.

103ـ لا تَنْسَوْا عِنْدَ النِّعْمَةِ شُكْرَكُمْ.

  1. Be a thankful servant in times of ease and a patient servant in times of adversity.

104ـ كُنْ فِي السَّـرّاءِ عَبْداً شَكُوراً، وَفِي الضَّـرّاءِ عَبْداً

صَبُوراً.

[^1]: ...As opposed to hiding one’s wealth and pretending to be poor.