He explained how a person should look at those below him in worldly matters and thank Allah Almighty. In religious matters, a person should look at those above him and strive to be like them. He also gifted us something we can recite abundantly to preserve our blessings and bounties: لَاحَوْلَ.

At the same time, we have been taught to not look at those higher than us in worldly wealth. In other words, not to be sad when seeing people who have more money or income than us or wonder why those bounties were not given to us. We should not consider any single bounty Allah has given us to be insignificant. Be patient. Be thankful. And look at those who have much less than what we are complaining about and those who are financially much less fortunate. In this way, remain content with the decree of Allah Almighty, and tell yourself: “If Allah Almighty has blessed them with more, there is definitely hidden wisdom behind this. Maybe if I were given what they had, my nafs would become out of control, not give the required value to what Allah Almighty blessed me with, and I would become ungrateful.” If we all try our best to think this way, we hope to avoid ungratefulness and become thankful, اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه.

Dear Islamic brothers, it is part of human nature to remember the bounties of Allah Almighty in times of happiness and express thankfulness for them. However, as soon as the smallest problem or worry arises, we immediately forget these blessings and begin complaining, falling into ungratefulness.

Concerning the following verse of the Holy Quran,

اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ لِرَبِّهٖ لَكَنُوْدٌۚ(۶)

“Indeed, man is very ungrateful towards his Lord.”^[1]