Ash-Shakur

Shakur is derived from Shukr which means to be grateful. When this is attributed to Allah Ta'ala, then it means appreciation. Allah Ta'ala is Ash-Shakur because He appreciates whatever good His servant does. He grants great rewards for actions that may seem very simple and easy. He gives 10 to 700 rewards for every rupee which is spent in His path. According to a Hadith reported by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu), Allah Ta'ala rewards 2 million folds for a good deed. Likewise, reading Subhaanallaah or Alhamdulillaah once yields the amount of Sawab that may fill the space between the heaven and the earth.

All this is because Allah Ta'ala has ability over everything and the treasure of Allah Ta'ala is inexhaustible. All the great reward that we get for simple actions is nothing for Allah Ta'ala even if it is much for us. It is as if Allah Ta'ala took a drop of water from the ocean. But in reality, it does not even represent a drop also.

A person had cut a branch that was leaning on the way of people and obstructing it. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) informed us that Allah Ta'ala pardoned this person due to this simple gesture. More surprising than this is the case of the female prostitute who was pardoned due to offering water to a dog that was dying out of thirst. It is as if Allah Ta'ala ignored all the errors on the exam papers simply because one question was answered well. Sometimes man forgets all the good which a person may have done for him because of a minor mistake. On the other hand, Allah Ta'ala forgives due to a simple gesture which has been accomplished with merit. This is what is termed Ash-Shakur. It is only one who possesses an infinite treasure who may have this immense generosity. And it is none other than Allah Ta'ala. Just as Allah Ta'ala is unequal, His reward also is incomparable due to being Ash-Shakur.

If a person gets a little fragrance of Ash-Shakur, he will not be able to resist without expressing Shukr to Ash-Shakur. Shukr is correctly made by using all the favours of Allah Ta'ala according to the way that Allah Ta'ala likes by following the Mubarak Tareeqah and the Sunnah of our beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam).

[English version of "Ash-Shakoor" – Al Jamiat – Vol.7 No.8]