Cultivating Gratitude Before Ramadan
Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on gratitude. Initially, I treated it like a skill—something I had to work hard to achieve, always striving to be “more grateful.” But this mindset left me feeling like I was falling short, unsure of how to truly embrace gratitude.
The Turning Point
I’ve tried different approaches, like using the Ramadan Legacy Planner and completing gratitude-focused prompts. But the biggest breakthrough for me came when I shifted my focus—from trying to be more grateful to being less entitled.
In Islam, entitlement (istehqaaq/استحقاق) is the belief that we are owed certain things in life. It’s an expectation that can quietly grow within us—making blessings feel ordinary, rather than extraordinary.
The moment I started letting go of this sense of entitlement, I began to experience gratitude more naturally. I started seeing everything—not as something I deserved—but as a gift from Allah.
Gratitude Grows When Entitlement Fades
This shift has changed how I see my life. Every small blessing—my work, my home, my family—now feels like a gift, not something guaranteed.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that gratitude isn’t just a feeling; it’s an act of worship. By realigning my perspective with this truth, my heart feels fuller, more peaceful, and deeply connected to Allah.
A Practical Approach to Gratitude
If you’re struggling to feel grateful, here’s a suggestion: minimize your sense of entitlement to zero.
Start with a powerful affirmation:
- “I don’t deserve…”
- I don’t deserve my job.
- I don’t deserve this meal.
- I don’t deserve my kids.
When we realize that we don’t actually “deserve” these blessings, our gratitude deepens, and our submission to Allah strengthens.
Reflection for This Week
This week, I’m asking myself:
- Is there someone or something in my life I’ve been taking for granted?
- Have I been expecting blessings instead of appreciating them?
By sense-checking my entitlement, I’m laying the foundation for genuine gratitude.
Cultivating Gratitude Before Ramadan
As Ramadan approaches, one of my key reflective exercises is to list everything I’ve been grateful for since last Ramadan.
This practice shifts my mindset toward positivity and abundance, preparing me to welcome Ramadan with an open and thankful heart.
May this journey toward gratitude enrich our faith and draw us closer to Allah as we prepare for this sacred month. 🌙