Surah Al-Mulk — Verse 23

Word Meanings:

• Ansha'akum (أَنشَأَكُمْ): Created you and brought you into existence from nothing.
• Al-Sam'a (السَّمْعَ): The sense of hearing.
• Al-Absar (الْأَبْصَارَ): The sense of sight (eyes).
• Al-Af'idah (الْأَفْئِدَةَ): The hearts/minds, which are the seat of understanding and reasoning.
• Qaleelan ma tashkurun (قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ): How little gratitude you show — meaning you hardly give thanks at all.

Explanation of the Verse:

O Messenger, say to those who deny the truth: It is Allah alone who brought you into existence from nothing — you were nothing, and He gave you life. He then granted you the gift of hearing, so that you may listen to the truth and the words of guidance; the gift of sight, so that you may observe His magnificent creation and reflect upon His power; and the gift of hearts and minds, so that you may reason, ponder, and distinguish between right and wrong. These are not random blessings — they are deliberate gifts from your Creator, each one serving a purpose in guiding you toward Him.

Yet, despite all this, how little gratitude do you show! You use these faculties for anything but thanking the One who gave them to you. You hear the truth but turn away, you see the signs of Allah but ignore them, and you use your minds to deny the very One who created them. Your gratitude is so scarce that it is almost nonexistent — you do not thank Him even a little, let alone as He deserves.

A Call to Reflection and Gratitude:

Dear reader, pause for a moment and think: Have you ever thanked Allah for the simple act of hearing? For the ability to see the faces of your loved ones, the beauty of the sky, the vastness of the oceans? Have you thanked Him for a mind that can think, learn, and understand? These are not small gifts — they are the very means by which you experience life itself.

Islam teaches us that gratitude is not just a word on the lips; it is a way of life. When you recognize that every breath, every heartbeat, every glance is a gift from Allah, your heart fills with love for Him, and that love naturally leads you to obey Him and draw closer to Him. The Qur'an reminds us again and again: if you are grateful, Allah will increase you in His blessings. So do not be among those who receive endlessly yet never thank the Giver. Open your heart, use your hearing to listen to the Qur'an, your sight to see Allah's signs, and your mind to reflect — and let gratitude be the key that unlocks the doors of His mercy and eternal success.