Whoever Is Grateful, Is Grateful for Himself

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ

(Qur’ān 31:12)

“Wa man yashkur fa’innamā yashkuru li-nafsihī, wa man kafara fa-inna Allāha Ghanīyun Ḥamīd.”

“And whoever is grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His favor] – then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.” Ṣadaqa Llāhu l-‘Aẓīm.

Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla says, a grateful person is grateful to Himself. A non-grateful person, Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla has no need of anyone. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla is Al-Ghani. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla has no need of anyone’s gratitude, his worship nor anything of his.

Whoever does something does it for himself. Who is grateful receives his reward. Who denies the favor suffers his own punishment.

So, even if the entire universe were grateful, Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla would not benefit him one bit. He ﷻ has no need for it. Even if there were disbelievers in the entire universe and denied His ﷻ favors, they would have no effect or harm upon Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla created mankind and all creation.

The reward and thawāb for what they’ve done is for them. It is for their benefit. It is of no benefit to Him ﷻ. Sometimes, some people say, “I pray, I do this, I do that.” Be thankful! What you do is for your benefit. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla has given you that blessing, and you are benefiting from it.

“No, I won’t do so. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla,” Hāsha (God forbid), some people say, “I’m upset with Him ﷻ.” If you are upset, you are harming yourself. No deficiency or harm comes to Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla.

Muslims and believers should know this. You must be careful about it. Gratitude is not worshipping Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla and considering it a favor to Him ﷻ. Favors and grace belong to Allāh ﷻ. He ﷻ gave you this favor. If He ﷻ enabled you to do this good deed, you should be grateful to Him ﷻ, you should thank Him ﷻ.

May we be grateful for the blessings Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla has bestowed, and may it be perpetual, in shā’a Llāh. May our gratitude never diminish. May we not fall into disbelief and denial of His ﷻ blessings.

May we be content with everything Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla has given us, and be in a state of gratitude and rank of contentment, in shā’a Llāh. Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq.

Al-Fatiha.

•⁠ ⁠Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

09 December 2025/ 18 Jumada Al-Thani 1447

Fajr Prayer – Akbaba Dergah, Istanbul

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