One of my biggest pet peeves is ingratitude.

To be ungrateful is a despicable characteristic to possess. It is not a good look. I note that people are rather ungrateful towards one another. They feel they don’t need to be grateful as it is their right to be given. They think the mere fact that they are born is their gift to the world and we should be grateful to them for gracing us with their presence.

What is gratitude? For me gratitude is to be thankful for every mercy given to us, whether it be big or small; to be happy and content with what we have.

It brings to mind the famous quote often attributed to Helen Keller: “I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.”

I know when I am hungry and all there is to eat is leftovers, I am ecstatic with thankfulness – and yesterday’s beans taste mighty delicious.

Allah loves gratitude towards Him and others. Abu Huraira reported: “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘Whoever does not thank the people has not thanked Allah.’”

God is not pleased with us, if we do not thank the people who have shown us kindness, assistance and love. The Koran says, “If you are grateful, He is pleased with you …" (Az-Zumar 39:7).

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah is pleased with His servant if, when he eats something, he thanks Allah for it, and when he drinks something, he thanks Allah for it.” (Muslim).

My parents and grandparents instilled gratefulness into us children, something that is lacking today. I see parents not encouraging their children to say thank you. It is rather sad. One is always looking on the bright side of things when they have an attitude of gratitude.

Let’s work on our thankfulness for the rainy, gloomy day as much as we our thankful for the bright and sun-filled days. Being grateful, whatever our lot, will definitely cause us to incur God’s favours. Alhamdulilah!

Allah tells us in the Koran that we shall be rewarded for showing gratitude: " … If any do desire a reward in this life, We shall give it to him; and if any do desire a reward in the Hereafter, We shall give it to him. And swiftly shall We reward those that (serve us with) gratitude.“ 3:145

As salaam alaikum Bermuda. May the peace and mercy of Allah be with you throughout the upcoming week. Ameen.

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam