Gratitude in the face of Adversity
While having gratitude might seem like an obvious concept to cultivate in our day-to-day lives, it is surprising how often it is also forgotten. We can all collectively acknowledge that many of us possess unearned advantages, whether it’s the circumstances of our birth or the families that we are born into. Some of us are fortunate to be born into a world of greater wealth, more favorable familial backgrounds, or increased access to opportunities than others. To a certain extent, we owe a debt of gratitude for these privileges.
Gratitude can be manifested in many ways through our actions, words, or social transactions. Research has shown the psychological positive effects that practicing gratitude has on our mental health and overall well-being. Some of the significant impacts it has on our psychological well-being include the feeling of positive emotions, improved overall mood, reduced anxiety, and enhanced resilience. Gratitude also plays a crucial role in fostering and maintaining positive social relationships which can lead to increased life satisfaction and stronger self-esteem. Apart from improved psychological well-being, there tends to be a strong correlation between gratitude and religiosity as well. In the Islamic faith context, there is a concept of Shukr (gratitude) which is an integral concept of the Islamic faith. It is in our tradition to engage in acts of worship as expressions of gratitude for the blessings that have been bestowed upon us by our Creator. It is through these acts of worship that we can contemplate the Greatness of god and His bountiful nature as well as cultivate contentment for the things that we have in this world. Some of the ways include realizing the Rizq (sustenance) that Allah has bestowed upon us and contemplating the wisdom behind the blessings that were granted to us. In Islam, the concept of Rizq transcends beyond just material wealth and possessions. It also covers all forms of sustenance including physical, emotional, and spiritual fulfillment. How the concept of Rizq and Shukr are connected is that we believe that Allah is the Provider of sustenance and it is in the Islamic virtue to recognize that everything comes from God and it is to Him whom we owe our gratitude. It is part of the Islamic faith to practice contentment with what we have and express gratitude for whatever blessings regardless of how abundant or modest they are. This attitude of gratitude is considered a means to increase God’s consciousness and strengthen the connection to Him.
We often associate the feeling of gratitude when we experience good things but what about in times of adversity? It is also the Islamic tradition to practice gratitude even in difficult circumstances. In life, we experience many forms of hardship whether it pertains to health issues, wealth, or forms of injustice. Recently, social media has been overwhelming with media coverage showing the predicament of the oppression and the injustice faced by the Palestinian people. Seeing people in distress, crying in anguish over the loss of their loved ones, and seeing their entire world fall apart is truly heartbreaking. Seeing a mother burying her child, family members desperately salvaging any sign of life through the rubble, and having medical supplies and facilities denied to them is indeed an injustice to humanity. Only one could imagine the pain and devastation that they are facing now as it transcends beyond any human capacity. Despite all that has happened, what also stood out was their unwavering faith and resilience in the face of such a situation. A mother was grateful to find the body of her child in one piece and a father was grateful that his son was martyred. For context, the concept of martyrdom also applies to those who die unjustly or whose lives are taken unjustly. It is believed that those who are martyred are being praised with rewards and earn a place in the highest level of paradise. We realized how fortunate we are to be in a position of privilege and how the inconveniences we have in life are nowhere near as close to being comparable to theirs.
Having patience and gratitude in the face of adversity is a true testament to one’s faith and trust in God. There is a concept of finding good in whatever situation we are in as we believe that no matter how difficult life can get, there is relief in knowing that everything happens in the awareness of Allah and there is always benefit that will emerge from that situation. Having this mindset allows us to have a much more profound perspective and understanding of the situation at hand. If facing a difficulty increases our faith in Allah then it is indeed a form of a blessing. God put us through trials and tribulations as a means to get closer to Him and to strengthen our faith. There is also wisdom in every adversity that we face and everything happens for a better reason. Apart from that, overcoming adversity can be seen as an opportunity to build a stronger character within ourselves. When we are being tested to our limits, we build resilience and tenacity which overall leads to a stronger mental state. Again, there is relief in knowing that God never puts us through tests beyond what we can bear and he gives the hardest battles to his strongest servants. There is only so much that we can bear in our human capacity and therefore, it is to Allah we turn, and through the remembrance of him we find comfort and solace.
It is incredibly haughty of us to think that we are entitled to such privileges when nothing is promised in this world. Life is constantly fleeting and you can be stripped away from your privileges in a matter of seconds. But what will always stick with you and can’t be taken away is your faith. Owing our gratitude to a higher power and the people around us gives us a sense of humility and groundedness. Taking on a more appreciative approach rather than an entitled one frees us from the shackles of materialism. Let us take the time to step back once in a while to recognize the blessing that we have. May we cultivate habits of gratitude in our daily lives and that we elevate in God-consciousness (Taqwa) !
