Page 103 - The Worst Slander: Idolatry

Harun Yahya (Adnan Oktar) 101

The feeling of indebtedness

All people encounter various blessings at every moment
of their lives. Since most of these blessings can be attrib-
uted to various causes, it is human nature to direct one's
gratitude toward those causes instead of toward Allah. In
the Qur'an Allah uses the term giving thanks to describe this
feeling of gratitude. However, everyone should understand
that whoever or whatever those intermediaries may be, they
need to be aware that only Allah can bestow a blessing and
that they can depend only upon Him. Thus, this phrase sig-
nifies an expression, made by one's heart and tongue, of
each person's indebtedness and gratitude to Him.
Giving thanks and being grateful to Allah are signs of
genuine servitude:
O you who believe, eat of the good things We have pro-
vided for you and give thanks to Allah, if you worship
Him alone. (Surat al-Baqara: 172)
So eat from what Allah has provided for you, lawful and
good, and be thankful for the blessing of Allah, if it is
Him you worship. (Surat al-Nahl: 114)
As in these verses Allah makes clear, giving thanks only
to Him is a precondition for and a sign of being a true ser-
vant, for this attitude shows that one understands that only
He can bestow blessings and control everything. Knowing
this means that a person really understands that Allah is the
only power, force, and authority that exists and that there is
no other deity besides Him. Thus, the person has undiluted
faith, embodies the human model described and praised in
the Qur'an, and has fulfilled one of the preconditions of true