Thank people as part of gratitude to Allah
“The sign of a man's gratitude is that he declares the praise of this person.”
A Muslim's gratitude to Allah is incomplete without recognizing and repaying people who help them, while those who do good should continue sincerely for Allah's sake regardless of others' thanks.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Uses fertile and barren fields to contrast gratitude with ingratitude.
- Explains that thanking people is part of thanking Allah, including for small favors.
- Presents material repayment, verbal praise, accepting intercession, and dua as forms of gratitude.
- Uses the Prophet's relationships with Abu Talib and al-Mut'im ibn Adi as examples of remembered kindness.
- Distinguishes the recipient's duty to show gratitude from the benefactor's duty to seek Allah's reward.
- Closes by urging listeners to benefit others and become among the truly grateful.
In the khateeb's words
“So it's obligatory upon us. As Muslims. To show gratitude. For the goodness. And the kindness. Of people towards us.”
“The sign of a man's gratitude is that he declares the praise of this person. And whoever conceals kindness then this person is ungrateful.”
“Whoever is shown kindness and says to the doer of that kindness jazakallahu khayra. Making dua for him may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala reward you with good.”
“But as for you, the doer of good, you're not doing it for praise. You're not doing it for thanks. You're doing it for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah reminded us to notice kindness and thank the people who show it to us, for both small favors and big ones. The khateeb explained that thanking people is part of thanking Allah. He shared examples of the Prophet remembering kindness and responding with care, even years later. We can show gratitude by returning a favor, offering sincere thanks and praise, or making dua and saying “jazakallahu khayra,” asking Allah to reward someone with good. When we help others, we should seek Allah's pleasure and keep doing good even when nobody thanks us.
- What small kindness did someone show you today, and how could you thank them?
- Who has helped you in the past that you would like to make dua for tonight?
- What could help you keep doing something kind when nobody notices?
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