Kufr al-Niʿma
Definition
Kufr al-niʿma — 'covering over blessings' — is the opposite of shukr and is considered by al-Ghazali one of the most common and most dangerous spiritual failures. The word kufr (same root as 'disbelief') carries the connotation of concealment: the ungrateful person is one who has received a gift and covered it over, failing to acknowledge it, honor it, or use it appropriately. Al-Ghazali notes that ingratitude is particularly insidious because it often masquerades as realism ('things aren't that good') or humility ('I don't deserve to feel thankful'). In reality, it is a failure of spiritual vision — the inability to see the divine generosity that surrounds every moment of life.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
1 book in the library
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