Shortened Question:

I became ungrateful to Allah what should I do?

Question:

I am very simple, but I have very affluent friends. I do not like to meet with them frequently because of my simplicity. Recently I was unintentionally ungrateful to Allah. What should I do? What should I do to avoid these circumstances?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The environment that we live in and the people that we associate with influence our lifestyle.

That is why Shariah encourages us to be careful about the people that we associate with.

Make shukr  to Allah for what He has given to you and make the following dua abundantly:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِعْلَ الخَيْرَاتِ، وَتَرْكَ المُنْكَرَاتِ، وَحُبَّ المَسَاكِينِ

(O Allah verily I am asking you to give me good actions, and to leave off evil, and to love the poor).

If you continue to live amongst the rich and the affluent you will be affected by their wealth and their attitude. You will be exposed to more wealth that you possess. This exposure will prolong your state of depression.

You should therefore associate more with people of your financial standing or with people who are less fortunate than you are. Do not look at those who possesses more than you. You will value the bounties Allah Ta’ala has blessed you with. You should also bear in mind that having a lot of wealth is not guarantee that you will have happiness. Many wealthy people are unhappy.

This does not mean that you should break ties with your wealthy and affluent friends. However you should limit the time that you spend in their company.

You should make sincere taubah to Allah for the feeling of being ungrateful.

As Muslims we believe that everything happens by the will of Allah Ta’ala. To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. Allah gives to whomever He wills in whatever quantity He wills.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Saeed Ahmed Golaub

Islamic Solutions

Jamaica