الشُّكْرُ

Saying thank you to Allah. For everything good (a good meal, a good mark, a hug, good health), we say: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ (al-ḥamdu lillaah): "Praise be to Allah." Allah says: لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ "If you are grateful, I will give you more" (meaning of part of verse 14:7).

Saying thank you to people. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever does not thank people does not thank Allah." (Abu Dawud 4811, Tirmidhi 1954). When someone helps you or gives you a present, you can say: جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا (jazaaka llaahu khayran): "May Allah reward you with good." The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever says this to someone who did him good has thanked him in the best way (Tirmidhi 2035). To a girl or a woman, we say: جَزَاكِ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا (jazaaki llaahu khayran).

When we sneeze. The Prophet ﷺ taught us a small exchange (Bukhari 6224): • The one who sneezes says: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ (al-ḥamdu lillaah). • The one who hears replies: يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ (yarḥamuka llaah): "May Allah have mercy on you." • And the one who sneezed replies: يَهْدِيكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ (yahdiikumu llaahu wa yuṣliḥu baalakum): "May Allah guide you and set your affairs right." It is a conversation full of kindness, in three sentences!

The tip to remember it: • Allah gave me something → الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ. • Someone helped me → جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا. Family game: for one day, everyone counts how many times they said "alhamdulillah" and "jazaak Allaahu khayran". In the evening, share your scores!

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Thanking Allah is done in three ways. With the heart: I know that what I have comes from Allah. With the tongue: I say "al-hamdu lillah". And with actions: I use well what Allah has given me. For example, my hands to help, my eyes to read, my voice to say kind things.

And why thank people? Because Allah often does us good through them: a parent who cooks, a teacher who explains, a friend who lends a pencil. Thanking them is also thanking Allah.

The exchange after a sneeze shows how Islam turns a tiny moment into kindness: the one who sneezes thanks Allah, the one who hears wishes him mercy, and the first answers with a lovely dua. Three sentences, and everyone receives a prayer!

Lessons to draw from it • I thank Allah with my heart, my tongue and my actions. • I say thank you (and "jazak Allahu khayran") to those who help me. • I notice the small blessings of every day, so as not to forget them.

Key points to remember • For Allah: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ; for people: جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا (Tirmidhi 2035). • "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you" (meaning of part of 14:7).

The main message Whoever says thank you to Allah and to people receives even more good: gratitude makes the heart happy.