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"The Obligation of showing

gratitude for Allah's favors and a


Caution from dispersing those
favors improperly"
By his eminence:
Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez bin Baaz
May Allah have mercy on him [D. 1420 A.H.]
(Taken from the Shaykh's Maj'moo' Fatawa vol. 4 pgs. 37-38)

Translation by: Abu Sulaymaan Muhammad Ibn Baker
[one in need of Allah's pardoning)
@
www.abusuliyman.multiply.com



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The obligation of showing gratitude for Allah's favors and a


caution from dispersing those favors improperly

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All praises belong to Allah alone, and may the praises and salutations be upon the
messenger of Allah, his family and his companions.
As for which follows:
For verily Allah tests His servants with poverty and indigence/destitution, similarly to
what has happened to this country in the first part of the 14
th
century [Islamic calendar]
Allah says:
_ > _
_ . _
. : _ __
__
"And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth,
lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sbirin (the patient ones, etc.). Who,
when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allh we belong and truly, to Him
we shall return."
[Baqarah 2:156-157]





The obligation of showing gratitude for Allah's favors and a
caution from dispersing those favors improperly

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In the same way Allah tests his servants with favors and vast provisions as what has
occurred in our times in order to test the level of His servants' Emaan (faith) and Shukr
(gratitude)Allah says:
: : :
_
"Your wealth and your children are only a trial, whereas Allh! With Him is a
great reward (Paradise)."
[Taghaabun 64:15]
And the praiseworthy ending throughout all of that belongs to Muttaqn [i.e. the Pious]
whom their deeds concur with that which Allah legislated, similar to having patience and
contentedness throughout situation of poverty, showing gratitude to Allah due for His
favors, dispersing the wealth in its proper place in times of wealth.
And from having thriftiness in his spending wealth on food and drink without being
stingy towards him or his family, nor being extravagant in wasting the wealth
unnecessarilyAllah has forbid from that in totalityHe says:
_ _ _
__ : 1 _:





The obligation of showing gratitude for Allah's favors and a
caution from dispersing those favors improperly

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"And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor stretch it forth to
its utmost reach (like a spendthrift), so that you become blameworthy and in
severe poverty."
['Israa 17:29]
And Allah says regarding the prohibition of squandering wealth:
_ _:
_
"And give not unto the foolish your property which Allh has made a means of
support for you."
[An-Nisaa' 4:5]
Allah prohibits in this verse from giving wealth to those who are foolish (with
wealth) because they disperse it improperly.
Thus Allah indicates that spending the wealth improperly is a matter prohibited from
Allah says:
_: : _ : _ _
_ _





The obligation of showing gratitude for Allah's favors and a
caution from dispersing those favors improperly

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"O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes),
while praying and going round (the Tawf of ) the Ka'bah, and eat and drink
but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allh) likes not Al-Musrifn (those
who waste by extravagance)."
[A'raf 7:31]
And Allah says:
__ _
__ : _
"But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a squanderer, Verily,
squanderers are brothers of the Shayatn (devils)."
['Israa 17:26-27]
Taq'teer [i.e. extravagance] is defined as an increase in spending wealth beyond the limit
of necessity, and Tab'dheer [i.e. squandering] is spending wealth in other than it is
needed for.
Indeed the people in our time are tested with in being boastfulness of having food and
drinks especially regarding banquets, marriage festivals and events; for they are not
content with what is necessary and many of them when they are finished eating they
throw the remaining food in the garbage and/or the service roads (the streets).
This is from ungratefulness of the favors and is the catalysis that changes and removes
the blessing.




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caution from dispersing those favors improperly

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So the intelligent one who balances the affairs according to his needs, so whenever there
is anything left over, he should search for who is in need of the food and when that need
is absolvedthen he should place the rest of the food in a place far from improper
treatment (i.e. in the trash, etc.) so that the animals may eat it and whoever Allah wills,
subsequently the person would be safe from improper use of the food.
The obligation upon every muslim is to be diligent upon staying away from that which
Allah has prohibited as well as he should be wise regarding his spending of wealth
seeking in that Allah pleasure, being grateful of Allah's favors, having caution towards
being neglectful in spending and dispersing it improperly.
Allah says:
. e _ .
_ _ _ :
"If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allh), I will
give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers),
verily! My Punishment is indeed severe."
[Ibraheem 14:7]
And Allah says:
_ e : _ :
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caution from dispersing those favors improperly

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"Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying, etc.). I will remember you, and
be grateful to Me (for My countless Favors on you) and never be ungrateful to
Me."
[Baqarah 2:152]
Allah has informed (us) that gratitude is with action, and not solely in speechthus
Allah says:
_
_ _: _ ::
"Work you, O family of Dwud (David), with thanks!" But few of My slaves are
grateful."
[Saba 34:13]
So gratitude belongs to Allah and it is (done) with the heart, the tongue and deeds.
Therefore whoever shows gratitude to Allah in speech and action and then Allah will
increase him out of His bounty and virtuemaking his end a good one.
As well as whoever shows lack of appreciation for Allah's favors and doesn't disperse it
properlythen indeed Allah has threatened him with a severe punishment.
We ask Allah to mend/better the circumstances of the muslims, bestowing the favor of
Fiqh [i.e. understanding] in the religion and may He grant us in addition to the rest of
the muslims success to show gratitude of His blessings aid in and those favors upon His
obedience and may He help his servantsverily He is the all-Protector of that, all-
Capable of accomplishing that.





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caution from dispersing those favors improperly

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May Allah's praise and salutation be upon our prophet Muhammad, his family and his
companions.

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