大象传媒

Good morning.听 I confess. I sometimes do the strangest of things. However my faith teaches me, 賮胤賵亘賶 賱賱睾乇亘丕亍听 - which means, 鈥淧aradise is for the strangers.鈥�

听

It might have seemed weird to thank the being of a home for witnessing my prayers, my laughter, my tears, and my children鈥檚 little footsteps and antics. But it felt right.听

I thought: if I could express gratitude to bricks and mortar, then what about the countless people whose lives have intersected with mine? Neighbours, friends, and family who鈥檝e shaped who I am today? Thank you unreservedly for the many gifts of life.

Gratitude, I think, grounds us in the present. It helps us appreciate where we are and what we have. In Islam, God says: 賵賻廿賽匕賿 鬲賻兀賻匕賾賻賳賻 乇賻亘賾購賰購賲賿 賱賻卅賽賳 卮賻賰賻乇賿鬲購賲賿 賱賻兀賻夭賽賷丿賻賳賾賻賰購賲賿 听- which means, 鈥淚f you are grateful, I shall surely increase you.鈥�

Gratitude isn鈥檛 about expecting anything in return; its beauty lies in its source. It comes from a place deep within the heart, untouchable yet powerful. It鈥檚 an acknowledgment: I see you. I鈥檓 grateful for what you鈥檝e done for me.

Yaa Allah, O God, help us to be among your grateful people. Enable us to recognise who and whatever has done good to us and empower us to use your gifts to do good to your creation. And to those who have gifted us with difficulty, help us overcome and do right by You.听 Amin.