Ramadan 2020/1441: Ramadan Gratitude Journal Day 22

What attribute of God are you most grateful for?

The obvious answer would be Allah’s (SWT) mercy, he is ar-Raḥmān (the Compassionate), ar-Raḥīm (the Most Merciful), al-Ghaffār (The Repeatedly Forgiving) and al-Laṭīf (gentle and subtly kind)

We all know our flaws, mistakes and weaknesses:

“Allah desires that He should make light your burdens, and man is created weak”. ~ Quran 4:28

Aisha (radhiallahu‘anha) reported: The Messenger of Allah, ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said, “Follow the right course, seek nearness to Allah, and give glad tidings. Verily, none of you will enter Paradise by his deeds alone.” They said, “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said, “Not even me, unless Allah grants me his mercy. Know that the most beloved deed to Allah is that which is done regularly, even if it is small.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6099, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2818)

We would be lost if we couldn’t hope for Allah’s (SWT) mercy.

But there is also the promise of Allah’s justice in a world that is cruel and unforgiving at times. Every day we see a barrage of injustice from war, poverty, drought, misuse of the climate to abuse of the individual by institutions and people they trust. In this world there is very little hope of justice for most people who have suffered. We trust in Allah’s attributes as reckoner -one that will set the record straight for everyone one day. In this way his attributes of al-ʿAdl (Just), al-Haseeb (the Bringer of Justice), Ash-Shaheed (the Witness) and al-Muhsi (The Accounter) bring us peace knowing everyone will get their due.

Today I was listening to Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad’s lecture Ramadan Moments 4 - Learning to Love and he tells us (5:10):

“Allah says that He has ennobled the descendants of Adam (AS) and also has said the higher degree of what we are, He loves us. This is in the hadith Qudsi on nawafil [non-obligatory or supplementary prayers] that says “My slave draws nearer to Me with optional acts, until I love him” God can love us for all of the mess we represent.

For all our self-doubt, how harshly we judge ourselves, hoe unforgiving we are to ourselves, how many mistakes we make, Allah (SWT) is al-Wadud, the Affectionate, the Loving. This thought leaves me in awe and makes me feel so grateful, for all of His names, but especially for this one.

What attribute of God are you most grateful for?

You can find the original Ramadan Gratitude journal challenge here and my take on it here.

image source

Say, ‘If you love God, follow me, and God will love you and forgive you your sins; God is most forgiving, most raheem.’ ~ Qurʾān 3:31

"and do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good." ~ Quran 2:195

"indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]." ~ Quran 3:159

"indeed, Allah loves those who act justly." ~ Quran 5:42

“And He is the Oft-Forgiving, Full of Loving-Kindness.” ~ Quran 85:14

“When Allah loves someone he calls to Jibreel ‘alayhi salatu wassalam (pay Allah be pleased with him) saying, ‘O Jibreel, I love such and such a person, so love him.’ Then Jibreel will call to the angels of the heavens, ‘Allah loves such and such a person so love him.’ And the angels will love [that person]. And then Allah will place acceptance on earth for that believer.” (Bukhari and Muslim)