During the holy month of Ramadan, I felt compelled to write a short piece on a subject that is one of the leading reasons for discontent, jealousy and the unrelenting rat race that leads to corruption in our society. The Holy Qur’an emphasises gratitude (shukr) as a fundamental act of faith, linking it to increased blessings, divine pleasure and the purpose of creation. “If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe” (Al Qur’an, Surah Ibrahim 14:7). The Qur’an also notes that despite abundant blessings, many do not show gratitude (Surah Saba 34:13). Being grateful benefits the individual’s soul, not God, as all blessings come from Him. Gratitude to Almighty Allah stems from the heart, is expressed in words and is reflected through pious acts such as Salat, Zakat, charity and service to humanity.

Diminishing gratitude, or growing ingratitude, is a decline in appreciating what one has, often replaced by entitlement, materialism or envy. In this state, blessings are viewed as expectations, eroding mental health, weakening social connections and leading to disappointment or resentment. It stems from a focus on what is missing rather than what is present, that is, a failure to see the glass as half full. Reduced gratitude can also lower the quality of relationships and weaken social bonds, as........

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