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The Stages of the Wayfarers: Reflections on Gratitude

Adapted from the Lectures of Nakoosham, (Session 294)

Introduction: Gratitude A Station of Knowledge and Monotheism

Gratitude, in the journey of spiritual progression, is a station that guides the wayfarer from heedlessness to knowledge and from knowledge to monotheism. As stated in the Holy Qur'an in Surah Saba, verse 13, this station is achieved by only a few of God's servants:

وَ قَلِیلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِیَ الشَّکُورُ (: And few of My servants are grateful).

Gratitude is not merely an expression of thanks for blessings, but rather a mirror through which the wayfarer sees the true Benefactor, transcending the apparent means of provision. This writing, by reflecting upon the lectures of Nakoosham, , seeks to elucidate the significance of gratitude in spiritual progression, its connection with knowledge, and the challenges that humans face in attaining this station. By delving into the verses of the Qur'an and its metaphors, gratitude is introduced as a bridge between blessings and knowledge, guiding the wayfarer towards the monotheism of actions.

Section One: Gratitude A Station of Knowledge in the Spiritual Journey

The Role of Gratitude in the Chain of Spiritual Stations

Gratitude, following the stations of contentment and love, is a station in which the wayfarer perceives divine blessings with the eye of knowledge. As mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, this station is attained by only a few of God's servants. The rarity of the grateful does not stem from the scarcity of blessings, but rather from the difficulty of recognizing the true Benefactor. A grateful wayfarer is one who perceives blessings as originating from God, transcending the external means such as the hands of others or their own efforts. This knowledge elevates gratitude from mere verbal thanks to a spiritual practice that connects the heart and soul with God.

Gratitude is a station that leads the wayfarer from heedlessness to knowledge, and from knowledge to monotheism of actions. The rarity of the grateful stems from the difficulty in recognizing the true Benefactor and transcending the apparent means of provision.

The Connection Between Gratitude and Knowledge

Gratitude is impossible without knowledge. The wayfarer must recognize the blessing, identify the Benefactor, and attribute all blessings to God. In Surah Saba, verse 13, the Qur'an emphasizes the scarcity of the grateful, pointing to the fact that knowledge of the Benefactor is rare among a few. In daily life, individuals often perceive blessings such as health, strength, and well-being as coming from others or their own efforts, neglecting the true Benefactor. This heedlessness has its roots in the lack of knowledge and reduces gratitude to mere superficial words.

The Distinction Between Gratitude and Praise

Gratitude is dependent on blessings, whereas praise encompasses the intrinsic glorification of God, even in the absence of blessings. Praise, like a breeze, disperses the fragrance of God within the heart of the wayfarer without the need for flowers, whereas gratitude is like a flower that only grows in the garden of blessings. This distinction highlights gratitude as a station that is both practical and epistemological, requiring the recognition of both the blessing and the Benefactor.

Gratitude is a station that guides the wayfarer to knowledge of the Benefactor and to the monotheism of actions. This station, following contentment and love, is dependent on recognizing blessings and attributing them to God. The rarity of the grateful stems from the difficulty of knowledge and the heedlessness of the true Benefactor. The distinction between gratitude and praise underscores the practical and epistemological role of gratitude.

Section Two: Gratitude in the Mirror of the Qur'an

Reflection on the Verse And Few of My Servants Are Grateful

The Holy Qur'an in Surah Saba, verse 13 states:

وَ قَلِیلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِیَ الشَّکُورُ (: And few of My servants are grateful).

This verse, within the context of the blessings granted to David and Solomon, alludes to the rarity of the grateful. Two interpretations of this verse can be derived: First, God bestowed blessings upon a few, and they were grateful; second, God granted blessings to all, but only a few were truly grateful. The second interpretation aligns more closely with divine justice, as God's blessings are universal, while knowledge and gratitude are specific.

The verse And few of My servants are grateful attributes the rarity of the grateful to the lack of knowledge and heedlessness regarding blessings. Gratitude is a conscious choice, rooted in the recognition of the true Benefactor.
"Gratitude is not only a verbal expression but a profound spiritual practice that connects the heart to the Divine."

Gratitude in the Qur'an

Qur'anic Examples: David and Solomon

The Holy Qur'an presents David and Solomon as exemplary figures of gratitude. To David, blessings such as the subjugation of the mountains and birds, as well as the softening of iron, were bestowed:

And We certainly gave David from Us a great favour. (Saba: 10, : And indeed, We granted David a favour from Us.)

To Solomon, the wind, jinn, and the source of the flow of copper were granted:

And to Solomon, the wind [was made subservient]. (Saba: 12, : And to Solomon, We made the wind subservient.)

These blessings serve as a manifestation of gratitude in the face of extraordinary divine gifts; however, even among the descendants of David, grateful ones were few.

The Death of Solomon and the Instability of Blessings

The Holy Qur'an refers to Solomon's death in Surah Saba, verse 14:

And when We decreed for him death, nothing indicated his death to them except a creature of the earth eating his staff. (: "And when We decreed for him death, nothing made them aware of his death except for a creature of the earth that ate his staff.")

This narrative illustrates the transient nature of material blessings. Despite Solomon's grandeur, he passed away standing, with his staff in hand, and it was only a termite that revealed his death. This metaphor calls the seeker to gratitude in the moment of life and preparation for death.

Summary of Section Two

The Holy Qur'an introduces gratitude as a rare virtue that is dependent on knowledge of the One who bestows it. The examples of David and Solomon illustrate gratitude in the face of unique blessings, yet the verse And few of My servants are grateful underscores the generality of blessings and the scarcity of gratitude. The story of Solomon's death reminds us of the fleeting nature of blessings and the necessity of gratitude in the present.

The Challenges of Gratitude in Human Life

Critique of Narrow-Mindedness in Gratitude

Humans often overlook everyday blessings such as health, strength, and vitality, restricting their gratitude to monumental gifts. This narrow-mindedness stems from neglecting the more common blessings. The discourse humorously points out those who dismiss blessings like bread and cheese, asking, What have you given that we should be grateful? This question unveils the human neglect that fails to acknowledge even the gift of life itself.

Key Point: Narrow-mindedness in gratitude arises from neglecting the general blessings. Gratitude requires recognizing all blessingsfrom health to lifeas acts of divine grace.

Critique of the Materialistic View of Blessings

The materialistic view limits blessings to tangible things such as food and wealth. The discourse critiques this view with the metaphor of "ball-bearing rice", which disregards spiritual and existential blessings. Gratitude necessitates a paradigm shift: blessings are not confined to Solomon's grand kitchens, but are present in every moment of life.

Gratitude and Social Justice

The discourse links gratitude to social justice, referencing the story of theft and Imam 's words. Poverty and inequality hinder gratitude, as those in distress fail to see the blessings they possess. This critique highlights the need for equitable distribution of wealth to enable universal gratitude.

Summary of Section Three

Gratitude faces challenges such as narrow-mindedness, materialism, and social inequality. The grateful seeker must transcend ignorance and recognise all blessings. Social justice provides the foundation for collective gratitude.

Gratitude and the Need for Scientific Interpretation of the Qur'an

Critique of Exegetical Methods

The discourse humorously raises issues like the presence of termites in Solomon's palace, advocating for a scientific and logical interpretation of the Qur'an. This critique highlights the necessity of revisiting interpretative methods. Gratitude, as a cognitive station, requires a precise understanding of blessings and divine wisdom.

Key Point: Gratitude requires scientific and logical exegesis of the Qur'an. A clear understanding of blessings and divine wisdom brings the seeker closer to true gratitude.

Gratitude and Readiness for Death

The discourse, using examples like Solomon's death and death with a morsel of food in the mouth, underscores the unpredictability of death. Gratitude brings the seeker closer to awareness and preparation for death, as blessings are transient, and only the knowledge of the Bestower remains.

Summary of Section Four

Gratitude is dependent on the scientific interpretation of the Qur'an and readiness for death. The critique of exegetical methods underscores the need for a precise understanding of blessings. Gratitude, by freeing the seeker from ignorance, leads to unity with the Divine and preparedness for death.

Final Summary

Gratitude, in the spiritual journey, is a station that guides the seeker from ignorance to knowledge, and from knowledge to active devotion to the Divine. The verse And few of My servants are grateful attributes the scarcity of gratitude to a lack of knowledge and neglect of blessings. The examples of David and Solomon illustrate gratitude in the face of special blessings, but general blessings such as health and life also demand gratitude. Challenges such as narrow-mindedness, materialism, and social inequality hinder gratitude. Scientific exegesis of the Qur'an and readiness for death make gratitude a practical and intellectual pursuit. Gratitude not only strengthens the relationship with God but also leads to inner peace, social justice, and unity with the Divines actions.

With sincere supervision by Sadegh Khademi