Use every blessing to serve Allah
“The best way to show gratefulness for a blessing is to use that blessing in a way that is pleasing to Allah.”
True gratitude means recognizing safety, health, daily provision, and free time as immense blessings, avoiding entitlement, and using those blessings to serve Allah and others.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Security, health, and daily provision can amount to possessing the whole world.
- Surah al-Takathur warns that rivalry and pursuit of quantity distract from existing blessings.
- The Prophet, Abu Bakr, and Umar experienced hunger and were reminded that even food is a bounty for which people will answer.
- The Prophet modeled gratitude during hardship and did not criticize food or gifts.
- Listeners are urged to verbalize gratitude, reject entitlement, and notice blessings through contact with people facing illness, grief, or deprivation.
- Charity includes money as well as kind words, smiles, and removing harm from the road.
In the khateeb's words
“we have lost the sight of the quality that Allah has already given to us”
“usually the caretakers are not cared for it is part of the human psyche no one thought to ask the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam if he was hungry”
“the best way to show gratefulness for a blessing is to use that blessing in a way that is pleasing to Allah”
“charity also does not have to be money it could be a kind word an inspiring word it could be a smile”
For the dinner table
Today’s khutbah reminds us that safety, health, and enough provision for today are enormous gifts, even when they feel ordinary. The Prophet, Abu Bakr, and Umar once experienced hunger, yet they remained grateful and were reminded that even a meal is a blessing for which we will answer. Gratitude means noticing what we have, speaking well about Allah’s gifts, and not assuming we deserve more than others. We should use our health, time, and comfort to please Allah and serve people who are sick, grieving, orphaned, or in need. Charity can be money, but it can also be a kind word, a smile, or removing harm from someone’s path.
- What is one blessing you used today without thinking about it?
- Who is a caretaker in our family or community, and how could we care for them?
- What kind of charity could you give without spending money?
More on Gratitude
ICI · Irving, TX · Oct 24, 2026Thank Allah in ease and hardship“Even in moments of difficulty, when it feels like there's nothing going your way, there is always something to be grateful for.”
Either we're receiving a blessing, which calls for shukr, or we're going through a hardship, which calls for sabr.13:29Al-Ittehad · Vista, CA · Sep 19, 2026Gratitude and patience carry believers through life
Real gratitude is not a feeling.16:14London Muslim Mosque · London, ON · Sep 11, 2026Gratitude means using blessings well