The first is the servant’s knowledge that Allah—Glorified is He—necessarily merits such praise and is worthy of it in Himself, for He has made everything He created good and fashioned all things with perfection. He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, the All-Aware, the Most Merciful.

The second is his knowledge that what Allah chooses for His believing servant is better than what the servant would choose for himself. Muslim and others narrated in his Sahīh that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “By Him in whose hand is my soul, Allah never decrees anything for a believer except that it is good for him. This is true of no one but the believer: if ease befalls him, he gives thanks, and it is good for him; and if hardship befalls him, he remains patient, and it is good for him.”1 The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—thus stated that every decree Allah makes for a believer who patiently endures affliction and gives thanks in times of ease is good for him.”2 End quote.

Once the servant knows this and is certain of it, he devotes himself to praising Allah in all his circumstances—in ease and hardship, and in distress and comfort. Even in times of hardship, he does not forget Allah’s favor toward him, His gifts, and His blessings.

A man once came to Yūnus ibn Ubayd—may Allah have mercy on him—complaining of his straitened circumstances. Yūnus asked him, “Would you be pleased to surrender your eyesight for one hundred thousand dirhams?” The man replied, “No.” He asked, “What about your hands for one hundred thousand?” He replied, “No.” He asked, “And your feet for one hundred thousand?” He replied, “No.” Yūnus then reminded him of Allah’s blessings upon him and said, “I see that you possess blessings worth hundreds of thousands, yet you complain of need.”