يعملون له ما يشاء من محاريب وتماثيل وجفان كالجواب وقدور راسيات اعملوا ال داوود شكرا وقليل من عبادي الشكور

يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَـٰرِيبَ وَتَمَـٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَٱلْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَّاسِيَـٰتٍ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ

'... Work gratefully, O family of Dawud! Only a few of My servants are truly grateful.' (34:13)


That verse has an important and a powerful message for all of us. But, here, I will just briefly touch on three reflections that came to my mind in relation to that verse:


1- Our work and other routine activities aren't necessarily acts of worship such as prayer and fasting, of course. However, I think that they can become so (or at least we can get rewarded for them) if we perform these tasks with genuine gratitude towards Allah. So even working gratefully, for example, can become an act of worship and that is a direct command from Allah SWT.


2- In today's business mindset, there is a greater importance placed on increasing our efficiency and productivity at the job. We have to work hard and people often repeat the phrase, 'No pain, no gain.' However, if we look at it from the Quranic lens, this thinking is inverted, because 'efficiency' and 'productivity' are eclipsed by the greater need to be simply grateful to Allah. And it is our gratitude that will lead to getting more in return, as Allah says in another verse, 'If you are grateful, then surely I will increase you' (14:7).


3- I was thinking that, if Allah tells us to WORK gratefully, then imagine how much more important it is that we should pray gratefully, fast gratefully, give charity gratefully, read the Quran gratefully, and so on. There has to be something more behind these actions instead of just doing it, which is: don't just do it, but do it gratefully.


May Allah make us among those few servants mentioned in this verse who are truly grateful to Him. Ameen.


#Gratefully

I was feeling restless today. I tried finding relief in the mundane—house chores, painting—but nothing settled my heart. Something was missing. That’s when I turned to the Quran, and this verse spoke directly to my soul.

Just one part of it stood out:
'Work… in gratitude.'

And it made me pause.
How is my attitude when I’m working?

Yes, I am grateful…
But do I still complain sometimes?
Yes, that happens too.

Do I give my work my full attention and seriousness?
Or do I take it for granted?
When I look back—from being stuck at a low-paying, exhausting job to finally securing a better-paying one with more ease and benefits—I ask myself:
Was it really just my effort?

Or was it those tearful duʿās, those desperate sujood, and Allah’s unseen help?

Do I thank Allah enough?

Is my current job bringing me closer to Him—or slowly drifting me away?

This verse reminded me that it’s not just about earning.
It’s about serving.
It’s about doing whatever you do, with a heart full of gratitude.

Whether you're:

Paid for your work,

Using your talent or skill,

Doing household chores,

Or offering service to your family, community, or the Ummah—


Do it in gratitude.

Because even if the world doesn’t see it… Allah does.

Be grateful:

That you're busy in something useful—it keeps you away from sin.

That you get to serve others—it’s an act of worship.

That you can earn and still say 'Alhamdulillah.'

And most of all, be grateful that Allah gave you the ability to be grateful.


That too, is a blessing.

May Allah continue to guide your heart and make you a source of healing for others through your reflections.



My grandma took pictures often,
Usually on a disposable camera. The kind you had to buy film for and take to Walgreens (a convenience store, for my international friends) to get developed and printed.

Some pictures turned out blurry. Some were blank. 
Others were just… bad. 
But they got printed anyway.
Because back then, we didn’t edit our memories.
We let them be.
Even the imperfect ones told the story of that day. So we kept them.

I want to get back to that.

Lately, I’ve started thinking about documenting my life.
Not because it’s exciting or anything,
but because it’s ordinary.
Soft and repetitive.
A rhythm I’m learning to love and embrace fully.

I’m a single stay at home mom, homeschooling my four year old son.
So many days look like the one before,
and the one before that.

Eventually, I found myself aching for something new.
A quiet wanderlust,
a tug toward the unknown.
Toward the next chapter of my story.

I’m in a really transitional period of my life, and I’m starting to see life unfolding in a beautiful way, and it’s stirring excitement because I have such high hopes for what Allah ﷻ has in store for me.
And in that stirring, I found myself slipping into daydreams.
Visions of 'later' that pulled me away from the beauty of now.
The blessings of today.

And I didn’t like how that felt in my heart.
It felt like ingratitude.
And I’ve been blessed. Truly blessed.
Just eight months ago, life felt like a storm.
I’m not out of my hardship yet, but Allah ﷻ is so merciful and is easing me into ease.

'But as for he who gives and fears Allah, and believes in the best [reward], We will ease him toward ease.' (92:5–7)

Now, there is stillness.
A peace I begged for,
a dua that now lives beside me.
And I want to slow down enough to really see it.
To feel it deeply.
To magnify the details of what looks like a quiet, ordinary life.
To deepen my awe of Allah ﷻ.
To grow in sabr.
To treasure my son’s childhood.
To invite adventure and whimsy into our days—even in small ways.
To be fully conscious of time and its passing.

Because it’s never really about not having enough time, is it?
It’s about not respecting it properly.
We rush. We anticipate. We chase.
And next thing you know, it’s May… where’d the time go?

What if we simply cleared the clutter?

I don’t watch TV. Don’t even own one.
I don’t listen to music.
I’m vegan, so I hardly go out to eat.
I don’t have a car anymore, so I mostly stay close to home.

I’ve made space.

I’ve filled it with intention and presence.
But I see a need for more.
Something deeper.
A return to living in a slower, more analog way.

I’m a ’90s baby, so I remember life before the internet.
How it crept in slowly,
how it used to be rare, exciting, and limited.
I want to return to something like that.

To live offline, in the world that He ﷻ created.
To use my eyes more than my camera. 
To remember more.

And because we are forgetful by nature, Allah ﷻ tells us:
'So remind, for indeed the reminder benefits the believers.' (51:55)

So I want to remind myself of the daily blessings.

Of course, it’s hard to forget the big ways He shows up.
But the memory of the 'small' ones fade over time.

So I’ve decided to document this season.
Not for an audience but for shukr.

To show my Lord that I am grateful—as much as I can be.
An empty leather notebook I bought years ago feels just right.

Each day, inshaAllah, I’ll write something that made the day new,
something that set it apart from the one before.
A sign from Allah ﷻ.
A simple joy that moved my heart.
A lesson learned.
A sweet moment with my boy.
A moment of stillness to take in the details of nature or of a loved one’s face.

I believe in living upon what you believe.
And I believe that each day is a new day, so I want to fully live out that belief.

Allah ﷻ tells us:
'˹Only˺ a few of My servants are ˹truly˺ grateful.' (34:13) 

We can never number His favors.
Gratitude isn’t a list.
It’s a lifestyle.
Something we show through action but also presence. 

This practice is how I choose to do just that.
To wean my heart and mind off my phone.
To block out the noise and distraction it brings.
To live sabr and khushoo’.
To enjoy the peace I prayed for.

Gratitude brings increase.
It shifts perception.
It softens the heart.
It invites barakah.

So today is my favorite day because it’s the one I’m in.
And Allah ﷻ is here too.
And so are you.
Alhamdulillah.
 
Maybe you’ll start documenting too. In a way that you need most. 
So your heart can remember that you are always surrounded by blessings.

How can you cherish the delicate and intricate details that Al-Lateef, the Subtle, has placed in your life?

Saying 'Alhamdulillah' is easy. 
But how do you show it?

Showing is better than telling. 

We often think of gratitude as a feeling—something we experience when good things happen.

But I like to think of it as a verb because in Islam, shukr is more than a verbal acknowledgement of blessings.

It’s an action, a state of being, a way of life.
A form of worship. 

Many people keep a gratitude log, and while there’s nothing wrong with writing down things you’re grateful for, shukr should go beyond words on a page.

Gratitude is meant to be lived—expressed through action and reflected in the refinement of our character.

True shukr means showing Allah ﷻ that we’re thankful for what He has given us. 

When you truly appreciate something you take good care of it.

'If you are grateful, We will surely increase you [in favor].' (14:7)

Gratitude is reflected in how you treat what Allah ﷻ  has placed in your life.

But here’s the thing…

Gratitude is work.

Especially when you’re struggling with contentment—when all you can see are your problems. 

To truly show 'Alhamdulillah' requires intention, effort, and energy.
And often, it requires sabr and emotional regulation.

'Work, O family of Dawud, in gratitude.' (34:13)

Because gratitude isn’t just feeling thankful when life is easy.

It’s choosing shukr even when life feels like it’s getting the better of you.
It’s holding your tongue when your nafs wants to complain.
It’s shifting your focus from what’s missing to what’s already there.
It’s searching for the lessons you can learn and take with you during each hardship.
It’s trusting that even in difficulty, Allah’s mercy is woven into your story in ways you may not yet see.

And that’s when the game changes. 

The moment you choose to act with shukr instead of succumbing to discontent, you invite barakah and ease into your life.

We work to show it through our daily choices:

Waking up for Fajr when you’re warm and cozy in bed = gratitude for the gift of guidance. 
Using wealth responsibly = gratitude for financial provision.
Being patient with family = gratitude for the blessing of relationships.

The more you walk the path of gratitude, the more peace you will find surrounding you.

yes, that make the life easy . Alhamdulillah. I try to practice in even the hard times and Allah didn't make me sad even once and i felt it at the right time .

Work gratefully 

Allah said, Only˺ a few of My servants are ˹truly˺ grateful.
We are not grateful at work because of our love for worldly better, if I have a bicycle, I want a car, if I have a car, I want a Mercedes car, if I have a Mercedes , I want my personal jet………
Allah said, 'and they are truly extreme in their love of ˹worldly˺ gains.'100:8. 'Hubbil khairi la shaded'… 
Gratitude at work is the act of focusing your attention and your energy on the things that you appreciate about your experience, making those things an active part of your awareness, so that negative things not bother you anymore.

How to be grateful at work

1.	Pay attention to your 'Whys': Why you are frustrated? Why you are complaining? Why you work? You work to pay the bills and to feed family and yourself. This is what you are getting from your job, right? Many times we complain about things at workplace which are silly. But if the job is not paying your salary than you must go for seeking another one.

2.	Apply the golden Hadith of ethics: Treat your job the way you want your job to treat you. You want a rise, why don’t you give rise to the quality of work you are doing. Or, you think your work as a draining burden, what if your employer thinks you are a draining burden for the company.

3.	Listen to adhan : Stop working when you heard the adhan. Allah is calling, ' come towards the success, come towards the salah'…. And you are saying '  la hawla wal quwwata illa billah - There is no might nor power except with Allah.' Feel the word 'falah'. It has so soothing and powerful effect on your perception of success and might of Allah.

4.	Put your Fatiha at salah into action: We recite Fatiha at least 17 times a day. (All praise is due to Allah X 17). Are you saying truth? If we pay attention to the praising, why I am praising? If we say thanks to someone 17 times without knowing why I am saying thanks and then complain for every other things that I don’t like, how weird it would be. We are enveloped in Allah’s mercy, just open your heart and see how your Alhamdulillah become alive.

5.	Read and contemplate the stories of Prophets: The Prophets are the most tested people on the face of earth, but what was their worldly gain. Is there any frustration or complaint about their career? They never complain about others Prophets getting more powerful miracles. They work their work and put rest to Allah.
6.	Clean your heart from envy: Envy works at offices like fire. When someone gets a promotion, people say 'congratulation' but think, 'I know how you get the promotion! I better deserve this! 'and the gossip…..

7.	See the people who are more deprived: There are people who work at more vulnerable environment than you. Think you are working at a fairly good office environment.

8.	Connect to Quran and make dua : It has clear solution of every problem in this world. Take time to find it. Seek Allah’s help, Oh Allah make me amongst the few grateful people, put love in my heart for whatever you have granted me.

This Reflection is nothing but a Reminder to all of us to be Thankful to Allah SWT for all the Blessings and Gifts he has bestowed upon us, even a trial that he may inflict upon us for our benefit. Sometimes we look at bad events as wrong but what if it made your life better even say for example a rich man who is enjoying the Dunya meets a Car Crash, he gets saved and later becomes a more Practicing Muslim, this is a very simple example.

 One thing that I like to do every week is to recite Surah Ar-Rahman every Monday and Sunday at Morning and Night. And of course you can never ever completely thank Allah SWT for all his Blessings but this makes you feel better and more grateful.

Very important to stop here at the wording of this beautiful verse 'only’ a few of My 'servants' not, few of people are truly grateful, it’s few of Allah’s very own servants are truly grateful, may Allah make us among those who are exceptional few of the very own special Allah’s servants.

A secular (but is it?) take on the benefits of #Gratitude: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/17/opinion/sunday/thanksgiving-gratitude-thanks.html

The author (a friend of a friend) makes some interesting points:
- Gratitude challenges our negativity bias.
-  There are numerous health benefits to gratitude

He also includes strategies for staying grateful (how can we islamicize them?): 
1. Thank the obscure: remember the hidden hands that contributed whatever you're enjoying (e.g. the miner who dug up the copper for the wires in the traffic lights).
2. Thank the obvious: thank the most basic but necessary things.(e.g. having arms).
3. Be thankful for the time in which you live: We often romanticize the past (see Golden age syndrome). The reality is that life in the past was a lot less cushy and convenient. 
4. Be thankful that it's not worse: Whether it's health, wealth, or family, your situation could always be worse. 
5. Go meta: be grateful for gratitude itself! This was actually a practice of the Prophet David - he said: 'Oh God, how can I show gratitude when showing gratitude itself necessitates gratitude!' 


Do you have a task to do at work that you are dreading? A chore that you find very boring? An errand that you don't want to run? A team that is not easy to manage?

When I read these ayat, I was thinking about how we learn about the resources and skills that Allah blessed David (a) and Solomon (a) with and then we read that Allah ordered them to 'Work gratefully, O family of David!'

I asked myself, 'Am I working gratefully?' And I realized that gratitude was not at the forefront of my thoughts when I had work to get done. I might chug along and try to finish my tasks, but how often am I mindful of the blessings involved in being able to do that work, and grateful for those blessings on top of that? 

When going about our regular work and when trying to tackle those dreaded tasks, let's reflect on the resources and skills we have been blessed with and try our best to work gratefully. May Allah make us of the 'few' who are truly grateful!

What are your thoughts on the importance of working gratefully? Do you have any tips to share on how to be grateful as you go about your work? What happens when we are not grateful while working? I'd love to hear from my QuranReflect family, regulars and newcomers alike :)

Reflections: Saba 34:13