Have you ever complained about your life because things were not going the way you expected? Perhaps you are unhappy with your job, tired of your daily responsibilities, worried about money, or frustrated because you cannot afford certain things.
But have you ever paused to consider what you still have that someone else is desperately praying for?
Someone is lying in a hospital bed, wishing to enjoy the health you sometimes take for granted. Someone is behind prison walls, longing for the freedom you experience every day. Someone has been laid to rest beneath the ground, and would give anything for another opportunity to perform even one good deed.
Sometimes, we do not need more possessions to appreciate life; we need a change of perspective.
An Arabic poem captures this lesson beautifully:
إِذَا لَمْ تَكُنْ فِي الْعَيْشِ لِلَّهِ شَاكِرًا
أَخِي، سِرْ إِلَى هَذِي الْأَمَاكِنِ زَائِرًا
زُرِ السِّجْنَ وَالْمُسْتَشْفَيَاتِ وَزُرْ مَقَابِرَ
بَرَ الْمَيِّتِينَ، سَوْفَ تَرْجِعُ شَاكِرًا
If you are not grateful to Allah for the life you enjoy,
My brother, go and visit these places.
Visit the prisons, the hospitals, and the graves of the deceased;
You will return with a heart full of gratitude.
1. Visit the Hospital: Appreciate the Blessing of Good Health
Have you ever woken up in the morning, complained about the day's responsibilities, and wished you could remain in bed a little longer?
Think about someone in a hospital who cannot get out of bed without assistance. Someone who longs to eat normally, walk without pain, or simply breathe comfortably.
While you may be complaining about having to go to work, another person may be praying for the strength to return to work. While you are worried about your appearance, someone else may be desperately hoping for recovery.
Good health is a blessing we often recognise most clearly when it is threatened.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ: الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ
“There are two blessings which many people squander: health and free time.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6412).
Do not wait until sickness comes before appreciating your health. Use your strength to worship Allah, help others, work honestly, and do good.
2. Visit the Prison: Appreciate the Blessing of Freedom
Freedom is another blessing that can easily escape our attention.
You can walk outside, visit family, attend the mosque, pursue your education, and make everyday decisions without being confined behind prison walls.
Yet, there are people who cannot enjoy these ordinary privileges. Some are separated from their families, restricted in their movements, and counting the days until they can return to their loved ones.
This does not mean every imprisoned person is guilty or that every prisoner deserves the same judgement. It simply reminds us not to take the blessing of freedom lightly.
If Allah has granted you freedom, use it responsibly. Do not use your liberty to commit sins, violate the rights of others, or destroy the peace of another family.
Freedom is a blessing, but it is also a responsibility.
3. Visit the Cemetery: Remember That Life Is Temporary
Perhaps the most powerful reminder is the cemetery.
There, you will find people who once had plans, ambitions, responsibilities, businesses, families, and unfinished conversations. Some were wealthy; others struggled financially. Some were celebrated, while others lived ordinary lives.
But today, they have left behind their possessions and returned to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
كُنْتُ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ، فَزُورُوهَا، فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّرُكُمُ الْآخِرَةَ
“I had forbidden you from visiting graves, but now visit them, for they remind you of the Hereafter.” (Sahih Muslim 977).
A visit to the cemetery should not merely make us emotional; it should make us reflect. What are we preparing for? How are we using our time? Have we fulfilled our responsibilities? Have we wronged anyone? Are we preparing for the day when our deeds will be all that accompany us?
The people in the graves once had opportunities similar to ours. Today, we still have the opportunity to repent, pray, give charity, reconcile with others, and improve our relationship with Allah.
Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
Learn to Say Alhamdulillah
Gratitude does not mean that you should never aspire to a better life. Islam does not discourage lawful ambition, hard work, or the pursuit of improvement. You can seek a better job, a comfortable home, financial stability, and a brighter future while remaining grateful for what Allah has already given you.
The problem begins when our desire for what we lack makes us blind to what we possess.
Allah says:
لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour].” (Qur’an 14:7).
So, before complaining about your circumstances, remember the person praying for the blessings you already enjoy. Before becoming consumed by what you have not achieved, appreciate the opportunities Allah has placed in your hands.
Visit the sick and offer comfort. Remember those who are imprisoned and pray for justice and relief. Visit the graves and remember your own return to Allah.
Above all, let gratitude become more than a word on your tongue. Let it influence how you live.
You may not have everything you want, but do not forget to thank Allah for everything He has given you.
May Allah make us among His grateful servants, grant healing to the sick, relief to those facing hardship, justice to those who have been wronged, mercy to our deceased, and a beautiful ending for us all. Amin.