THE REALITY OF SHUKR (شكر)
On daily basis people say shukr (شكر) i.e. thank, each other and a believer also say ( شكر اللله )- i.e. thanks Allah. This is commonly done after an event which seems pleasurable or some good deed or after removal of some harm.
This is perfectly fine but in Quran shukr (شكر) describes a more meaningful way than just a verbal declaration and to this wider meaning most of us are ignorant.
Now remember that the essence of a process called shukr (شكر ) is transformation of an undesired event into a desired one, or transformation of an ill effect into desired effects, or transformation of evil into good, or transformation of destructive process into a constructive process, or transformation of bad character or habit into a good one and so on.
If we say it in one sentence this means transformation of shar (شر). Shar (شر) refers to all kind of things, physical or moral which are threat to human life or survival either in this world or afterworld.
When this shar (شر) is transformed into wellness we say shukr (شكر).
The earth and universe we live in now exposes us to all sort of shar (شر) whether it involves bodily harm, an illness, social loss, economical loss, moral degradation, ecological disasters and you can name various hazards before human existence and to transform them in a beneficial way becomes our duty if we really want to say shukr (شكر) and hence become a shakir (شاكر).
Thus when an illness is removed we say shukr because an illness has been transformed into health.
What we really should understand that a believer has a responsibility to take part in this process of transformation to ward off all sort of calamities from other people and himself. Only then a believer can qualify as shakir (شاكر).
But only few understand it and thus do not act, do not engage actively, thereby getting harmed or be unable to remove harm from other, as already written in Quran
قليلا ما تشكرون
(Only little you do shukr)
So to offer shukr (شكر) you really have to work hard.
The best of people who are able to offer shukr (شكر) are folks of Allah. There shukr (شكر) is four fold or in four ways. They are able to avoid a harm and avoid future calamities with due action in time. They take the past faults and correct them so that these past mistakes do not continue. They are able to transform various powers, energies and resources for benefit of mankind. They are able to stop, withhold misdeeds and calamities from mankind. When they perform and act in all four dimension they achieve a higher station of Shakireen (شكرين). But this is something which the devil promised that it will stop humans from doing and prevent them to reach this station and for that the devil has blocked all the four ways:
ثم لاتينهم من بين ايديهم ومن خلفهم وعن ايمنهم وعن شماءلهم ولا تجد اكثرهم شكرين
(Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful)
Because of this devil mislead you and people are satisfied with verbal greeting and verbal shukr. Actually to pay shukr ( شكر) is a powerful at. Devil stops you from act, to act in a right and powerful way. Look Allah has all the power than why a believer in Allah is powerless?
[…] Bu if you realize and be a believer in AL-SHAKOOR, you take part in this process, as stated in other post: https://kitabulmaknoon.com/reality-of-shukr-شكر/ […]
Nice
Allaw. ,
Very nicely explained and more so your blogs are becoming palatable for a common man 🙂
Sir, what are your thoughts on life as we live it. For the regular moderately privileged person, education is the first privilege they are bestowed. From there, starts a journey of goals, desires, and a wish to achieve, mingled with personal satisfaction, familial respect, and respect in the eyes of society and people. Shukar and when to be shukarmand, is associated with a perceived sense of blessing.
And yet, contentment, spiritual belonging, and a peaceful mind is by no means connected with all that we are eager to achieve, see or do. The more I see of the world, the more I feel that there are hoops laid in the path for me to jump through which achieve no goodness, for a team, an organisation, or even for patients. But you are expected to be a part of that ‘world’, and ‘play that game’ if you want to bear the fruit of your hard work.
My feeling is the modern way of living, and the modern day of business, makes it impossible to keep the truth in sight, and to have the right priorities in your heart and mind. What are your thoughts on how successful doctors in the modern day can find peace if they also wish to be associated with the best institutions, organisations?
Your goals are your idols and demi-gods. You ave to break them. To practice medicine as a doctor is a service, service to Allahs people. The sole aim being to transform an ill-patient toward well-being and then be satisfied with this “shukr”. If doctor aim is to acheive wealth, or to get into association or rank, these becomes his demi-gods.