What did al-Ghazali say about gratitude (shukr)?
Al-Ghazali distinguished between shukr of the tongue, shukr of the limbs, and shukr of the heart. Only the third, he said, is what Allah actually asks for.
10 passages from 6 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 6 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Battuta — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"You wished for their blessings to vanish, yet they remain, and your actions only added blessings to them while increasing your own misery."
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"The pain of envy is a torment greater than any other, and your enemies may wish for you to live a long life filled with this torment, constantly witnessing the blessings of God upon them."
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"If you wish for blessings to vanish from others due to envy, it is as though you wish for the blessing of faith to be taken away due to the envy of disbelievers."
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"If you desire blessings to remain with you despite others' envy, this is foolishness, as every envious person desires this special privilege."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was the most generous of people, and this is agreed upon in the narration from Ibn Abbas,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"The intercession of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is for the one who has destroyed himself and burdened his back."
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
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"had restored by Allah the spread of the Maronite state, healing the Maghreb lands with his blessings and spreading goodness to all people."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Abu Bakr placed his foot over it, fearing that something might come out and harm the messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him."
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"He asked, what happened between you and my deputy? I replied, he would deliver speeches, praise Allah, send blessings upon the prophet,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Thus, both love and worship are blessings from him who initiated you with them without merit, for there is no prior cause or connection."
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