Page 40 - Satan: The Sworn Enemy of Mankind

SATAN: THE SWORN ENEMY OF MANKIND

sea? You call on Him humbly and secretly: 'If you rescue us
from this, we will truly be among the thankful.'" Say:
"Allah rescues you from it, and from every plight. Then
you associate others with Him." (Surat al-An`am, 63-64)
The fact is, however, that rendering thanks to Allah is one of the
human being's most important responsibilities. Because, everyone's
life is replete with countless blessings for which thanks ought to be
given. So extensive are these blessings, in fact, as is revealed in the
18th verse of Surat an-Nahl, that any attempt to number them
would be futile. In fact, one can give thanks for all one receives. For
instance, one who, like the Prophet Ibrahim (as), knows that it is
Allah Who provides for him what he eats and drinks (Surat ash-
Shu`ara´, 79), knows whenever he eats or drinks that it is to Allah
that he must give thanks.
Giving thanks must not, however, be restricted to what one re-
ceives for eating and drinking. All through the day one benefits
from numberless blessings, which he may not always be cognizant
of or remember to give thanks for, and the value of which he only re-
alizes when he they are no longer available to him. The blessings of
"seeing" and "hearing," frequently mentioned in the Qur'an, and de-
scribed as means of giving thanks, are examples of these.
Sight and hearing are not faculties that came about by chance.
Allah's creation of people's eyes and ears was intended as a means
for them to give thanks to Him, and in order that they may serve
Him, as outlined in the following verse:
Allah brought you out of your mothers' wombs knowing
nothing at all, and gave you hearing, sight and hearts so
that perhaps you would show thanks. (Surat an-Nahl, 78)
Similarly, ships and other forms of transport, even the wind,

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