A child who notices blessings grows up content; a child who never notices grows up complaining. Islam trains the noticing. Allah says that if we are thankful He will give us more. The Prophet ﷺ told us Allah is pleased with a servant who says Alhamdulillah over a mouthful of food, he prayed until his feet swelled and explained it by asking whether he should not be a thankful servant, and he taught that whoever is not grateful to people is not grateful to Allah. Every point in these lessons is tied to an ayah shown from the verified Qur'an text or to a hadith you can open on sunnah.com.
Lesson 1 · The smallest thank you · ages 5-7
Why we say Alhamdulillah
Allah is pleased with a servant who says Alhamdulillah over one mouthful of food or one sip of water.
1The hadith
Anas ibn Malik reported the Prophet ﷺ said Allah is pleased with His servant who says Alhamdulillah while taking a morsel of food and while drinking.
2It is tiny and it counts
One word after one bite pleases Allah — thankfulness does not need to be big to be real.
3Say it out loud
Saying it aloud reminds the people around you to notice their food too.
4Allah promises more
Allah says that if you are thankful He will surely increase you.
5Try counting
Allah says if you tried to count His favours you could not — which is why we keep saying it.
Wa iz ta azzana Rabbukum la'in shakartum la azeedannakum wa la'in kafartum inn'azaabee lashadeed
“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "”
Fazkurooneee azkurkum washkuroo lee wa laa takfuroon
“So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.”
“Allah is pleased with His servant who says: Al-Hamdu lillah while taking a morsel of food and while drinking.”
Sahih Muslim 2734a
Memorise this
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Alhamdulillah
All praise belongs to Allah.
Qur'an 1:2
Do this before next time
Say Alhamdulillah out loud after every drink of water today, not just after meals.
Lesson 2 · The Prophet's ﷺ nights · ages 8-11
Should I not be a thankful servant?
The Prophet ﷺ prayed at night until his feet swelled, and explained it with one question about gratitude.
1The hadith
Al-Mughira reported the Prophet ﷺ used to stand in prayer until his feet or legs swelled, and when asked why, he said: should I not be a thankful slave?
2Thanks with the body
He did not only say thank you — he stood, bowed and prostrated with it.
3He was already forgiven
He worshipped out of gratitude, not out of fear of a debt he had to pay.
4Our version of it
A child's version is praying on time, reading a little Qur'an, helping at home — gratitude that costs something.
5Allah calls us to it
Allah tells us to remember Him and be thankful to Him and not ungrateful.
Wa iz ta azzana Rabbukum la'in shakartum la azeedannakum wa la'in kafartum inn'azaabee lashadeed
“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "”
Surah Az-Zumar · 39:66
بَلِ ٱللَّهَ فَٱعْبُدْ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ
Balil laahha fa'bud wa kum minash shaakireen
“Rather, worship [only] Allah and be among the grateful.”
“The Prophet (ﷺ) used to stand (in the prayer) or pray till both his feet or legs swelled. He was asked why (he offered such an unbearable prayer) and he said, "should I not be a thankful slave."”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1130
Do this before next time
Pray two extra rakats today purely as a thank you for something good that happened this week.
Lesson 3 · Shukr and sabr · ages 8-11
Good news and hard news
A believer wins twice: thankful when something good comes, patient when something hard comes.
1The hadith
Suhayb reported the Prophet ﷺ said the affair of the believer is wondrous: if delight comes he thanks Allah and it is good for him, and if trouble comes he is patient and it is good for him.
2Only the believer
The hadith says this is the case for no one except a believer, because both halves need faith.
3Two tools, one heart
Shukr is for the easy day; sabr is for the hard day; a child learns to reach for the right one.
4Nothing is wasted
Allah promises the patient their reward without measure.
5Say it either way
Alhamdulillah works on both days — that is why Muslims say it at good news and at bad.
“Say, "O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account."”
Wa iz ta azzana Rabbukum la'in shakartum la azeedannakum wa la'in kafartum inn'azaabee lashadeed
“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "”
Wa lanablu wannakum bishai'im minal khawfi waljoo'i wa naqsim minal amwaali wal anfusi was samaraat; wa bashshiris saabireen
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,”
“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.”
Sahih Muslim 2999
Do this before next time
Write down one good thing and one hard thing from this week, and say Alhamdulillah for both.
Lesson 4 · Manners of gratitude · ages 8-11
Thanking people too
Whoever is not grateful to people is not grateful to Allah — so thank your parents, teachers and friends.
1The hadith
Abu Hurayra narrated the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said whoever is not grateful to the people is not grateful to Allah.
2Start at home
The people who do the most for you are usually the ones you thank the least — parents.
3Allah names parents
Allah tells us to be thankful to Him and to our parents in the same command.
4Say it properly
Look at the person, use their name, and say what you are thanking them for.
5Honour them in speech
Allah forbids even a word of impatience towards parents, and commands noble speech to them.
Wa wassainal bi waalidaihi hamalat hu ummuhoo wahnan 'alaa wahninw wa fisaaluhoo fee 'aamaini anishkur lee wa liwaalidaika ilaiyal maseer
“And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.”
Wa qadaa Rabbuka allaa ta'budooo illaaa iyyaahu wa bilwaalidaini ihsaanaa; immaa yablughanna 'indakal kibara ahaduhumaaa aw kilaahumaa falaa taqul lahumaaa uffinw wa laa tanharhumaa wa qullahumaa qawlan kareemaa
“And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.”
“And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."”
“Whoever is not grateful to the people, he is not grateful to Allah.”
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1954
Do this before next time
Thank three people today out loud and name the thing you are thanking them for.
Lesson 5 · Curing jealousy · ages 12-15
Look at the one below you
When you notice someone with more, the Prophet ﷺ told us to look at the one who has less.
1The hadith
Abu Hurayra reported the Prophet ﷺ said if anyone of you looks at a person given more in property or appearance, he should also look at the one who has less than him.
2Why it works
Jealousy comes from only looking upwards; the cure is to widen your view, not to want less.
3It is not pity
Looking at those with less should produce gratitude and giving, never feeling superior.
4Do not stare at others' gifts
Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ not to strain his eyes towards what He has given others to enjoy.
5Content is richer
Allah says the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.
Wa laa tamuddanna 'ainaika ilaa ma matta'na biheee azwajam minhum zahratal hayaatid dunya linaftinahum feeh; wa rizqu Rabbika khairunw wa abqaa
“And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.”
Wa maaa ooteetum min shai'in famataa'ul hayaatid dunyaa wa zeenatuhaa; wa maa 'indal laahi khairunw wa abqaa; afalaa ta'qiloon
“And whatever thing you [people] have been given - it is [only for] the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allah is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason?”
“Abu Hurayra reported: Allah's Messenger said, if anyone of you looked at a person who was made superior to him in property and (in good) appearance, then he should also look at the one who is inferior to him.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 6490
Do this before next time
Next time you want something a friend has, name three things you already have that they do not.
Every ayah on this page comes from the Tanzil Uthmani text of the Qur'an with the Sahih International translation, and every hadith carries its collection and number so you can check it yourself. Back to the learning path
