Why is it required to be thankful

We have been blessed with so many things in life. The very fact that we own eyes, ears, limbs, etc. and many others in the world do goes on to prove that indeed we are privileged. Not a day goes by when some or the other does something for us for which we feel very thankful. We feel to express gratitude towards their favor.


Obviously, none can come close to our creator, Allah, who gave us everything. As the Quran states in surat Infitar [82:7]: “Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion”

Gratitude is knowing that everything is from Allah. It helps us in slowing down and enjoy what we have. It also helps us in exercising the patience that would ward off the desires that may have harmful consequences in the future. It trains our mind in focusing on right things and recognize other people's favors.

I want to focus on people's favors here. I feel it is a very important subject in human psychology. Human being is a very complicated creature. However tough they show from outside, from inside they need polite and kind words. they want their actions to be acknowledged. If someone have wronged them, they should be apologized. If someone did favor to others, they should receive thanks.

It's pertinent here to say that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) through his sayings made it quite clear that expressing our gratitude to Allah by thanking Him also involves that we thank people who do favors for us. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said as narrated by Abu Hurairah: “He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah” (Ahmad, Tirmidhi). He also said: “Whoever does you a favor, then reciprocate, and if you cannot find anything with which to reciprocate, then pray for him until you think that you have reciprocated him”  Abu Dawood (1672). In another hadith, he said: “Whoever has a favor done for him and says to the one who did it, ‘Jazak Allahu khayran,’ has done enough to thank him” [Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi]. Let’s therefore ensure that we do our part to sincerely thank our families and those who have done good to us.

Allah fearing believer is always conscious of the blessing he has received from Him. He also believes that he is quite privileged to have all that he owns and those are nothing but Allah's blessings. His way of thanking Allah can also be seen in his giving off things to others (a simple meal treat to fellow brothers is also an act of charity).

So, the next time someone helps you or does favor to you do thank him/her. They could do it to you without you even asking them their favors, so please don't ask them why are they doing this? They could be Allah fearing and Allah conscious person, they may have felt something and decided to help you and so you should accept it. Thank him and reciprocate it to others and be Allah's medium in spreading joy to every face. There's so much Allah's happiness and blessing all around, it's the least we can do by sharing the blessings with others.

Remember that being grateful is not an option and being one brings us closer to those whom we thank and appreciate. Also remember a dua from Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
Allahumma A’inni Ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ibadatika (O Allah help me to remember You, to thank You and to worship You properly).

O Captain! My Captain!

An open letter to my current favorite cricket player and captain

I belong to that generation of people who have grown up watching and admiring Sachin Tendulkar. I have seen those days when people used to switch off their television once Sachin used to get out. Gone are those days, but people still look for someone to put their trust on. They want someone to carry on their burden of expectations. In the last decade or so you have pulled on weight and carried their expectations. And you did that beautifully. As a cricketer you have already achieved a lot. As a captain too, no one else can be very promising. You report card is still very much positive.

I say this to every haters of yours. For a man who has captained India for almost a decade, he certainly deserves more respect. The haters demand consistency in every performance, winning every matches. I demand from them consistency in their support. Dhoni, you see it's tough to grow in India with all the expectations. You have faced various adversity in the last decade. Not to mention tough oppositions in England, Australia or South Africa, alien conditions Down Under, lack of quality fast bowlers in the team. The real adversity you have faced is the people of India. Having won so many trophies, people expect you to win even more. Nothing wrong in that, but the only thing which matters and delights the haters is the fact that you are the only captain to lose a series against Bangladesh.

People doesn't know what it takes to be the Indian cricket captain. They complain that you give chances to the undeserving. Making Rohit and Dhawan hit purple patches, Rahane to have confidence in his batting, Shami to be the leader of the pace attack. I want to remind them these were not CSK players.

People define your wicketkeeping poor. I won't argue because you have already clarified while taking a flying catch that it was nothing but a fluke. A street smart keeping styles, running out the batsman when the throw is not even 2 meters near the wickets can only be done by you. More than 600 dismissal behind the stumps and yet your keeping is poor?

You have changed your batting style to suit the team. Your helicopter is in the hangar. Yet you do your best to bring laurels for India. Being always present to take the team across the line. Always walking the talk, never asking others what you cannot do yourself. You have gained respect from all across the globe. Only in India where you will find people with short memories and glories to live by.

Not a day passes by without you being compared with other captains of this nation. After having won us so many trophies, memories like the six in the final of the World Cup 2011, Joginder and Ishant bowling in the final matches of the major ICC tournament etched forever, people still complain you are nothing more than lucky. Was it really luck bhaiyya?

People from small town owes a lot to you. You have given them confidence to dream high and be a world beater. The day you retired from the Test cricket, was one of the saddest day in my recent times. It was a bolt from the blue. You never gave a hint. You thought for the team, for the new generation, for the new captain. You led by example and left by example. You didn't want a farewell, a glorified memento. You earned the respect of your teammates by setting an example with your own performances and then simply left like silent saint assassin.

One of the earliest saved pictures (1st Test match)