This noble ḥadīth contains a profound lesson. The first two men denied Allah’s favor, failed to attribute it to Him, and withheld Allah’s rightful due from their property; consequently, His wrath fell upon them and the blessing was taken away. The third man, however, acknowledged Allah’s favor, ascribed it to Him, and gave Allah His due; thus he earned Allah’s pleasure, and Allah preserved his wealth because he expressed gratitude for the blessing.

Ibn al-Qayyim said: “The essence of gratitude is to recognize the Benefactor’s favor while humbling oneself before Him in devotion and love. Whoever does not perceive the blessing—being ignorant of it—cannot be grateful for it. Whoever recognizes the blessing but does not know the One who bestowed it likewise shows no gratitude. Whoever knows both the blessing and the Benefactor yet denies them, as one who rejects the favor and its Giver, has committed kufr of that blessing. Whoever acknowledges the blessing and the Benefactor, yet neither submits to Him nor loves Him nor is content with Him and His decree, has still not shown gratitude. True gratitude belongs to the one who knows the blessing, knows the Benefactor, affirms the favor, humbles himself before the Giver, loves Him, is content with Him and with His decree, and employs the blessing in what He loves and in obeying Him. Thus gratitude must consist of the heart’s knowledge joined to outward action that follows that knowledge—namely, turning toward the Benefactor in love and submission …” End quote.