The concept of being grateful/thankful to Allah, is to realize and acknowledge that every kind of grace and favor is granted ultimately by Allah. The Quran thus begins with bismillah (in the Name of Allah) followed by al-hamdulillah (all praise and thanks is due to Allah); significantly meaningful phrases with we begin and end every action of importance.
Allah has granted us so many favors; let alone counting up these favors, it is inconceivable even to categorize them.
Allah says: “And if you should count the favors of Allah , you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [Quran 16:18] Since there is no limit to the favors of Allah, a believer should unceasingly keep himself occupied with the remembrance of Allah and express his gratefulness to Him; hence the association of dhikr / remembrance of Allah with shukr/ thankfulness to Allah.
Shukr & Dhikr
Allah Commands us: So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. [Quran 2:152]
Allah says: “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.” [Quran 14:7]
