The short answer
Shukr (gratitude) means recognising that every blessing is from Allah, praising Him for it, and using it in ways He loves. Allah promises in the Quran, "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you". Gratitude benefits you, not Allah, who is free of any need.
The promise. "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe" 1. This is a promise from Allah, stated plainly: gratitude brings more of His favour and grace.
What shukr is. The scholar as-Sa'di defined it as the heart acknowledging Allah's blessings, praising Allah for them, and using them in ways that please Him 8.
Who benefits. Luqman was given wisdom and told, "Be grateful to Allah. And whoever is grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself" 2. Allah does not need our thanks. Gratitude is a gift to our own hearts.
More than words. Shukr is in the heart, on the tongue and in action. Allah told the family of Dawud (AS), "Work, O family of David, in gratitude", and added, "few of My servants are grateful" 3. The Prophet ﷺ prayed at night until his feet swelled, and when asked why, since Allah had forgiven him, he said, "Shouldn't I be a thankful slave of Allah?" 4. His worship was his thanks.
Speak of it. "As for the favor of your Lord, report [it]" 5. Mentioning Allah's blessings, without boasting, is part of gratitude. The Prophet ﷺ also said Allah loves to see the effects of His favours on His servants 6.
Remember Him. "Remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me" 7. Gratitude and remembrance go together.
So thank Him with your tongue, feel it in your heart, and show it by using what He gave you in obedience to Him.
If you are grateful, Allah will increase you; if you deny, His punishment is severe.
وَإِذۡ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمۡ لَئِن شَكَرۡتُمۡ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمۡۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرۡتُمۡ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدࣱ ٧
And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe
Whoever is grateful is grateful for his own benefit; Allah is free of need.
وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا لُقۡمَٰنَ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ أَنِ ٱشۡكُرۡ لِلَّهِۚ وَمَن يَشۡكُرۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَشۡكُرُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدࣱ ١٢
And We had certainly given Luqman wisdom [and said], "Be grateful to Allah." And whoever is grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His favor] - then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy
Work in gratitude, family of Dawud; few of My servants are grateful.
يَعۡمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَٰرِيبَ وَتَمَٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانࣲ كَٱلۡجَوَابِ وَقُدُورࣲ رَّاسِيَٰتٍۚ ٱعۡمَلُوٓاْ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكۡرࣰ اۚ وَقَلِيلࣱ مِّنۡ عِبَادِيَ ٱلشَّكُورُ ١٣
They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], "Work, O family of David, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful
The Prophet ﷺ prayed until his feet swelled and said, "Shouldn't I be a thankful slave of Allah?"
Narrated Al-Mughira:The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer night prayers till his feet became swollen. Somebody said, to him," "Allah has forgiven you, your faults of the past and those to follow." On that, he said, "Shouldn't I be a thankful slave of Allah)?
حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا زِيَادٌ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ الْمُغِيرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى تَوَرَّمَتْ قَدَمَاهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ قَالَ " أَفَلاَ أَكُونُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا ".
Report the favour of your Lord.
وَأَمَّا بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثۡ ١١
But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it]
Allah loves to see the results of His favours on His servants.
Narrated 'Amr bin Shu'aib:from his father, from his grandfather who said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Indeed Allah loves to see the results of his favors upon His Slaves
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الزَّعْفَرَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبَّ أَنْ يُرَى أَثَرُ نِعْمَتِهِ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ " . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَعِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ وَابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ .
Remember Me and I will remember you; be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.
فَٱذۡكُرُونِيٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لِي وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ ١٥٢
So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me
Shukr is the heart's acknowledgement of Allah's blessings, praising Him for them, and using them in His pleasure.
وقال لهم حاثا على شكر نعم الله: { وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ } أي: أعلم ووعد، { لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ } من نعمي { وَلَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ } ومن ذلك أن يزيل عنهم النعمة التي أنعم بها عليهم. والشكر: هو اعتراف القلب بنعم الله والثناء على الله بها وصرفها في مرضاة الله تعالى. وكفر النعمة ضد ذلك.
This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24