In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

Islam brought the most complete (guidance) in all situations with regards how one should be when granted blessings, when traversing the paths (that leads to attainment of benefit), and when facing hardships and calamities. Allaah and His Messenger commanded that one remembers his neediness (poverty) in the presence of Allaah when granted blessings (see footnote a), fully acknowledge the grace of Allaah who decreed and facilitated such blessings, thank Allaah for granting him such blessings – constantly; utilizing them for their real purpose and as an aid to worship Allaah alone (see footnote b), and neither being insolent nor boastful because of such blessings; rather one should be humble and thankful. (see footnote c)

Allaah and His Messenger commanded a person to take advantage of beneficial opportunities when granted blessings, so that one profits from them in this life and the next, seizes the opportunity found in wellbeing, good health, strength, wealth, prestige and children, so that one is not deceived by them and thus they become temporary and things that are merely for the present; but rather one extracts lasting blessings from them, successive goodness and continuous benefit. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death”. [Saheeh al-Jaami. Hadeeth Number 1077]

So, when a servant of Allaah knows the intent behind blessings and that they are made as means to the bounties of the Hereafter, two things are gathered for him (or her): enjoy them in this temporary worldly life and benefit from its bounties in the Hereafter; and fulfil the obligatory and recommended deeds attached to them, so they become real blessings- both in the religious and worldly affairs. This is contrary to the situation of those who have deviated from that which the Islamic Sharee’ah has conveyed – those who enjoy blessings in a manner similar to grazing animals and bestial lust; so, blessings in relation to their affair departs quickly and disassociates very soon, and only loss and regret will follow them. As for the first category of people, they share the immediate enjoyment of this worldly life and perhaps granted – in addition – peace of mind and tranquility, safety against panic and distress.

Commentary: When granted blessings, a person should always recall his poverty in Allaah’s presence. Allaah said: [يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ أَنتُمُ ٱلۡفُقَرَآءُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِىُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ – O mankind! it is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of all praise]. [Surah Al-Faatir. Aayah 15]  Therefore, a person should always recall his need of Allaah whether he is rich or poor, and should never think that he is not in need of Alaah in the twinkling of an eye. (see Footnote d) If Allaah grants you blessings, you should acknowledge Allaah’s favour, as opposed to the situation of those about whom Allaah stated: [يَعۡرِفُونَ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنڪِرُونَہَا – They recognize the Grace of Allah, yet they deny it]. [Surah An-Nahl. Aayah 83]

Allaah grant them blessings, but they attribute that to someone else. So, one who is granted blessings says, “I am worthy of this”, and other statements that are devoid of acknowledging the one (Allaah) Who granted those blessings. The person should be thankful, as the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Verily, Allah is pleased with a servant who praises Him when he eats, or praises Him when he drinks”. [Saheeh Muslim. Hadeeth 2734]

And the person should utilize blessings for their rightful purpose – in obedience to Allaah and in that which Allaah has allowed. Allaah said: [ٱعۡمَلُوٓاْ ءَالَ دَاوُ ۥدَ شُكۡرً۬اۚ – Work you, O family of Dawud (David), with thanks!] [Surah Saba. Aayah 13]

These blessings should be utilized in obedience to Allaah and not that a person is busied by them away from worship. Some people have little wealth and it busies them away from the obligatory prayers, so what good is there in this wealth? This wealth busies him away from the obligatory deeds of Islam or he utilizes this wealth in disobedience and sin.

And the person should not be insolent and boastful. He should not become insolent, boastful, raising himself above the people, arrogant towards the people and being self amazed; but rather he should be humble in Allaah’s presence.

The person should seek to use these blessings to grain numerous other blessings; so he takes advantage of the blessings of wellbeing, good health, physical strength, wealth, prestige and children. He makes an effort to use these blessings to gain something in the Hereafter. Many people are given these blessings- wellbeing, good health and other things, but they incur loss in relation to them. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said: “There are two blessings which many people waste: health and free time”. [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Hadeeth 6412]

A person has good health, wellbeing, strength, energy and plenty of time, but he wastes them and not utilized in anything that will benefit him when he meets Allaah on the day of Judgement. The person should extract lasting benefits from these blessings, successive goodness and continues benefits. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said: “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death”. [Saheeh al-Jaami. Hadeeth Number 1077]

These are five affairs: youth, good health, free time, wealth and life. Good health alternates to illness, youth alternates to old age, free time alternates to preoccupation, wealth alternates to poverty, and life ends in death. So, if not utilized when they are present, you’ll lose them and being regretful will not benefit you. Many old people express regret, as the poet said, “If only youth returned”, but it will never return. A person should utilize all these blessings so that their outcomes remain when he dies. Many people of knowledge (scholars and students of knowledge) have passed away, but the knowledge they left behind is still here and its benefit reaches them in their graves. How amazing that there are deceased people whose reward constantly reaches them in their graves everyday; but there are people who are alive with strength, good health and energy, however they are deprived of reward everyday. Therefore, it is obligatory that when a person is granted good health, strength, and wellbeing, he (or she) busies with these things to attain good.

So when a servant of Allaah knows the intent behind blessings and that they are made as means to the bounties of the Hereafter, two things are gathered for him (or her): enjoy them in this temporary worldly life and benefit from its bounties in the Hereafter; and fulfil the obligatory and recommended deeds attached to them, so they become real blessings- both in the religious and worldly affairs. So, a person asks himself (herself): What is this good health for? What is this life for? What is this strength for? What is this wellbeing for? Are they the purpose themselves or is there another purpose behind them? So, if a person ponders upon this he (or she) will find that there is another purpose behind them – a means to work for the afterlife and to earn Allaah’s reward. Allaah said: [وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ – And I (Allaah) did not create Jinn and humankind for any other purpose, except that they worship Me alone]. [Surah Adh-Dhaariyaat. Aayah 56]

This is contrary to the situation of those who have deviated from that which the Islamic Sharee’ah has conveyed – those who enjoy blessings in a manner similar to grazing animals and bestial lust; so, blessings in relation to their affair departs quickly and disassociates very soon, and only loss and regret will follow them. (see footnote e) As for the first category of people, they share the immediate enjoyment of this worldly life and perhaps granted – in addition – peace of mind and tranquility, safety against panic and distress. (1)

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Footnote a: https://salaficentre.com/2021/08/26/destructive-self-sufficiency-and-the-two-types-of-neediness/

Footnote b: The Three Pillars of Gratitude: https://masjidfurqan.co.uk/2017/08/23/the-three-pillars-of-gratitude-by-imaam-as-sadi-rahmahullaah/

Footnote c: Arrogance, Boastful About One’s Personality and Significance, And Boastful In Speech! https://salaficentre.com/2020/03/20/arrogance-boastful-about-ones-personality-and-significance-and-boastful-in-speech-a-good-time-for-self-scrutiny-and-reflection/

Footnote d: https://salaficentre.com/2019/09/02/oh-ever-living-oh-the-self-subsisting-upon-whom-everything-depends-by-your-mercy-i-seek-assistance/

Footnote e: Allaah said:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدۡخِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِہَا ٱلۡأَنۡہَـٰرُ‌ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَتَمَتَّعُونَ وَيَأۡكُلُونَ كَمَا تَأۡكُلُ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمُ وَٱلنَّارُ مَثۡوً۬ى لَّهُمۡ

Certainly! Allah will admit those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), while those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat, and the Fire will be their abode. [Surah Muhammad. Aayah 12]

[Ref 1: 1hr 1min: 36secs to 1hr 17mins. 26sec https://www.al-badr.net/detail/6y71LsHDZr paraphrased]