In Islam, gratitude is known as the second primary source of barakah (something that has been blessed by Allah) after a person’s relationship with Allah, as outlined in the ayah of the Quran below:
“Whoever is conscious of Allah, He will make a way out for him. And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose. Verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion” (Quran 65:2-3).
What does it look like when your business has barakah?
A business that thrives under barakah will face difficulties with a lot of ease and experience abundance. Indeed, Allah has promised in the Quran that He will give someone more when one practices gratitude.
“If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more.” [Surah At-Talaq, Ayah 7]
Here are some of the signs that a barakah is present in your business:
- Good relationships with people
- Able to think more creatively
- Have a positive mind, energy and attitude
- Productive work environment
- More resilience when facing difficulties
- Attract new opportunities
How do you practice gratitude for your business?
Business is all about building good relationship with people. As an entrepreneur, it is essential maintain good relationship with the people in their professional network. This way, they will open doors to exciting new business opportunities. Not only that, having a good relationship with your customers will strengthen your image as a business. Also, your business will have more creative and innovative ideas when you create good relationships with your employees.
Here are some ways to practice and express gratitude as a leader:
Appreciate the people around you
Islam encourages Muslims to practice acts of kindness. When you make someone happy, this will create a good relationship them. The Quran mentions numerous times the virtues of helping others, being charitable, and treating people with respect and kindness. With kindness, there will be rewards. Recognizing the team’s effort and genuinely saying thank you to your team, customers and business partners can improve relationship with them.
Reflect on what you already have
Think of the difficult and struggling times that you endured, and see where they brought you today. You will notice and be grateful of why things happen the way it do. The great way to do this is by writing them down. When facing difficulties in the future, looking back at what you have written could remind you that the difficulties that you are facing right now are just a phase. Eventually, with consistent effort and hard work on your journey as an entrepreneur, you will reach the goal that you desire for your business.
Build a culture of gratitude
As a leader, you will serve as an example to others to build a certain culture within your organization. Starting with yourself, practicing the habit of expressing gratitude will naturally become second nature. This habit can then be easily incorporated into your business. This can be done by starting small by making a random act of kindness, such as giving food, or by making others smile with some lighthearted jokes. When this frequently happens, it will encourage others to do the same. You could also get employees to be involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. Other than improving the work culture, it will also give the business a positive image with customers. Customers are more likely to support businesses that are involved in helping the needy.
Conclusions
Practicing gratitude is a powerful way to attract barakah and blessings to your business. When you are grateful to Allah and express appreciation to those around you, you open the doors to abundance, creativity, and resilience. As an entrepreneur, make it a habit to recognize the efforts of your team, build strong relationships with customers and partners, and reflect on how far you’ve come. By creating a culture of gratitude in your organization, you will not only improve morale and productivity, but also attract new opportunities and the pleasure of Allah.
