🌾 Gratitude (Shukr)
The Quran constantly reminds people of what they have been given: hearing, sight and hearts, food and a livelihood on the earth, and favours too many to count. All of these, it says, come from God, and it states the purpose plainly: “so that you might give thanks.”
Words that our translation renders as “ungrateful” or “being ungrateful for His favour” appear again and again as the opposite of gratitude. The Quran promises that God will give more to those who are grateful, yet it also says that whoever is grateful is grateful for his own good, since God is Self-Sufficient and in need of no one. A recurring remark is that few people are truly grateful.
Noah and Abraham are described as grateful servants, and Solomon prays to be inspired to give thanks for the blessings granted to him and to his parents. The verses below are grouped into the call to gratitude, its fruits, human forgetfulness of favours, and the example of grateful servants.
(紹介文は英語です)
The Call to Gratitude
- 2:152
Remember God and He will remember you; be grateful, not ungrateful.
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
f파ð드쿠r루니 아ð드쿠r르쿰 와시쿠r루 리 왈라 탁f푸r룬
So remember Me, and I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me.
- 2:172
Eat of the good things provided and give thanks to God.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
야 아이유할 라ð디나 아마누 쿨루 민 따이바티 마 r라자끄나쿰 와시쿠r루 릴라히 인 쿤툼 이야후 타으부둔
O you who believe, eat of the good things We have provided for you, and give thanks to God, if it is Him you worship.
- 16:78
God gave hearing, sight and hearts so that people might give thanks.
وَاللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُمْ مِنْ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
왈라후 아흐r라자쿰 밈 부뚜니 움마하티쿰 라 타을라무나 샤이안 와자알라 라쿠뭇 삼아 왈압사r라 왈아f프이다타 라알라쿰 타시쿠r룬
It was God who brought you forth from your mothers' bellies when you knew nothing at all, and who gave you ears, eyes and hearts, so that you might give thanks.
- 31:12
Luqman’s wisdom: be grateful to God; gratitude is for one’s own good.
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ ۚ وَمَنْ يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ
왈라까드 아타이나 루끄마날 히크마타 아니 시쿠r르 릴라히 와만 야시쿠r르 f파인나마 야시쿠r루 리나f프시히 와만 카f파r라 f파인날 라하 가니윤 하미드
We gave Luqman wisdom: “Be grateful to God.” Whoever is grateful is grateful for his own good, and whoever is ungrateful — God is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.
The Fruits of Gratitude
- 14:7
If you are grateful, God will give you more; ingratitude brings severe punishment.
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ
와이ð드 타앗ð다나 r랍부쿰 라인 샤카r르툼 라아지단나쿰 왈라인 카f파r르툼 인나 아ð다비 라샤디드
And when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely give you more; but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe indeed.'"
- 4:147
Why would God punish you if you are grateful and believe?
مَا يَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ وَآمَنْتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًا
마 야f프알룰 라후 비아ð다비쿰 인 샤카r르툼 와아만툼 와카날 라후 샤키r란 알리마
Why would God punish you if you are grateful and believe? God is ever Appreciative, All-Knowing.
- 39:7
God does not approve disbelief for His servants, but approves their gratitude.
إِنْ تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْكُمْ ۖ وَلَا يَرْضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ الْكُفْرَ ۖ وَإِنْ تَشْكُرُوا يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
인 탁f푸r루 f파인날 라하 가니윤 안쿰 왈라 야r르다 리이바디힐 쿠f프r라 와인 타시쿠r루 야r르다후 라쿰 왈라 타지r루 와지r라툰 위즈r라 우흐r라 θ숨마 일라 r랍비쿰 마r르지우쿰 f파유납비우쿰 비마 쿤툼 타으말루나 인나후 알리뭄 비ð다팃 수두r르
If you disbelieve, God has no need of you, yet He does not approve disbelief for His servants. And if you are grateful, He approves it for you. No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you of what you used to do. He knows well what is in the hearts.
- 3:145
God will reward the grateful.
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَنْ تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُؤَجَّلًا ۗ وَمَنْ يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَمَنْ يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الْآخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا ۚ وَسَنَجْزِي الشَّاكِرِينَ
와마 카나 리나f프신 안 타무타 일라 비이ð드닐 라히 키타밤 무앗잘란 와만 유r리드 θ사와밧 둔야 누으티히 민하 와만 유r리드 θ사와발 아키r라티 누으티히 민하 와사나즈짓 샤키r린
No soul can die except by God’s leave, at a term set down in writing. Whoever wants the reward of this world, We give him some of it, and whoever wants the reward of the Hereafter, We give him some of it. And We will reward the grateful.
Countless Favours, Little Thanks
- 14:34
God’s favours are countless, yet man is unjust and ungrateful.
وَآتَاكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَإِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا ۗ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ
와아타쿰 민 쿨리 마 사알투무후 와인 타웃두 니으마탈 라히 라 투흐수하 인날 인사나 라ð달루문 캅f파r르
And He has given you some of everything you asked of Him. If you were to count God's favours, you could not number them. Man is truly unjust and ungrateful.
- 7:10
God provided a livelihood on earth, yet people give little thanks.
وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّاكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَا تَشْكُرُونَ
왈라까드 막칸나쿰 f필 아r르디 와자알나 라쿰 f피하 마아이샤 깔릴람 마 타시쿠r룬
We have established you on the earth and placed in it means of livelihood for you. How little thanks you give!
- 34:13
David’s family is told to work in gratitude; few servants are truly grateful.
يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ مَا يَشَاءُ مِنْ مَحَارِيبَ وَتَمَاثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَالْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَاسِيَاتٍ ۚ اعْمَلُوا آلَ دَاوُودَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ
야으말루나 라후 마 야샤우 밈 마하r리바 와타마θ실라 와지f파닌 칼자와비 와꾸두r린 r라시야티니 으말루 알라 다우다 슈크r란 와깔릴룸 민 이바디얏 샤쿠r르
They made for him whatever he wished: places of prayer, statues, basins like reservoirs, and cooking pots fixed firmly [in place]. “Work, family of David, in gratitude.” Few of My servants are truly grateful.
- 55:13
A repeated question: which of your Lord’s blessings will you deny?
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
f파비아이 알라이 r랍비쿠마 투캇ð디반
So which of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
The Grateful Servants
- 17:3
Noah is described as a truly grateful servant.
ذُرِّيَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا
ð두르r리야타 만 하말나 마아 누힌 인나후 카나 압단 샤쿠r라
you descendants of those We carried with Noah." He was a truly grateful servant.
- 16:120-121
Abraham was thankful for God’s favours, chosen and guided to a straight path.
إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
인나 이브r라히마 카나 움마탄 까니탈 릴라히 하니f판 왈람 야쿠 미날 무시r리킨
Abraham was a community in himself, devoutly obedient to God, upright in faith, and he was not one of the idolaters,
شَاكِرًا لِأَنْعُمِهِ ۚ اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
샤키r랄 리안우미히 즈타바후 와하다후 일라 시r라띰 무스타낌
thankful for the favours [God gave him]. [God] chose him and led him to a straight path.
- 27:19
Solomon prays to be grateful for the blessings on him and his parents.
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِنْ قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
f파타밧사마 다히캄 민 까울리하 와깔라 r랍비 아우지으니 안 아시쿠r라 니으마타칼 라티 안암타 알라이야 와알라 왈리다이야 와안 아으말라 살리한 타r르다후 와아드킬니 비r라흐마티카 f피 이바디캇 살리힌
He smiled, laughing at her words, and said, “My Lord, inspire me to be grateful for Your blessing which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and to do righteous deeds that please You, and admit me by Your mercy among Your righteous servants.”
- 27:40
Solomon sees a favour as a test of whether he is grateful.
قَالَ الَّذِي عِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِنْدَهُ قَالَ هَٰذَا مِنْ فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَنْ شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ
깔랄 라ð디 인다후 일뭄 미날 키타비 아나 아티카 비히 까블라 안 야r르탓다 일라이카 따r르f푸카 f팔람마 r라아후 무스타끼르r란 인다후 깔라 하ð다 민 f파들리 r랍비 리야블루와니 아아시쿠r루 암 악f푸r루 와만 샤카r라 f파인나마 야시쿠r루 리나f프시히 와만 카f파r라 f파인나 r랍비 가니윤 카r림
One who had knowledge from the Book said, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” When [Solomon] saw it set firmly before him, he said, “This is from the favor of my Lord, to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. Whoever is grateful is grateful for his own good, and whoever is ungrateful — my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Generous.”