Reflections on the Name of Allah: Ash-Shakoor
The Grateful, The Appreciative, The One who gives a lot of reward for a little obedience.
Allah’s attribute as Ash-Shakoor, the Most Grateful, emphasizes His appreciation and reward for the good deeds of His servants. This name underscores Allah’s observance of even the smallest acts of righteousness, demonstrating His attention to detail and generosity in rewarding His believers.
Allah’s gratitude extends beyond mere acknowledgment; He rewards good deeds abundantly, whether in this life or the hereafter. This attribute reflects His bountiful nature and His willingness to bestow immense blessings for even the slightest acts of goodness.
By being Ash-Shakoor, Allah encourages believers to persist in their efforts to do good, knowing that He values and rewards their actions. This concept inspires gratitude and humility among believers, fostering a deeper connection with Allah and a commitment to righteous living.
Overall, Allah’s attribute as Ash-Shakoor serves as a reminder of His boundless generosity and appreciation for the good deeds of His servants, encouraging them to strive for excellence in their actions and to trust in His benevolence and mercy.
It is mentioned 4 times in the Holy Quran
(وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا ٱلْحَزَنَ ۖ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌۭ شَكُورٌ ) فاطر 35 : 34
(And they will say, “Praise be to Allah, Who has kept away from us all ˹causes of˺ sorrow. Our Lord is indeed All-Forgiving, Most Appreciative. ) Fatir 35: 34
There are two names here, Ash-Shakir (The Recogniser and Rewarder of good) and Ash-Shakoor (The Appreciative). Al-Shakir is mentioned in the Qur’an twice, whereas Al-Shakur is mentioned four times. Below we’ve included an example of the usage of Al-Shakir, and you will see the name Shakoor in other verses. One thing to note is that Shakoor is a more exaggerated form.
إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
(Indeed, ˹the hills of˺ Ṣafa and Marwah1 are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes the major or minor pilgrimage to the ˹Sacred˺ House,2 let them walk between ˹the two hills˺. And whoever does good willingly, Allah is truly Appreciative, All-Knowing.) Al-Baqara 2: 158
(مَّا يَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِن شَكَرْتُمْ وَءَامَنتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًۭا)
(Why should Allah punish you if you are grateful and faithful? Allah is ever Appreciative, All-Knowing.) An-Nisa 4: 147
Elevating the Value of Sincere Intentions
The attribute of Ash-Shakoor beautifully highlights Allah’s capacity to recognize and reward the sincerity of a believer’s intentions. This name emphasizes that it is not just the actions that are rewarded, but the intentions behind them that are truly valued.
(وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ) البقرة 2:158
(And whoever does good willingly, Allah is truly Appreciative, All-Knowing.) Al-Baqara 2:158
This verse underscores the importance of the willfulness and purity of one’s actions. When a believer performs any act of goodness out of genuine desire to please Allah, no matter how small the act may seem, it is immensely valued and rewarded by Ash-Shakoor. This divine recognition encourages believers to approach every good deed with pure intentions, knowing that their internal sincerity elevates the worth of their deeds in the sight of Allah.
The Deep Appreciation for Servant’s Efforts
Understanding Ash-Shakoor enriches the relationship between Allah and His servants by highlighting His deep appreciation for their efforts and intentions. This divine name reassures believers that every act of goodness, no matter how minor it may seem, is significant in the eyes of Allah and worthy of reward.
(مَّا يَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِن شَكَرْتُمْ وَءَامَنتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًۭا) النساء 4:147
(Why should Allah punish you if you are grateful and faithful? Allah is ever Appreciative, All-Knowing.) An-Nisa 4:147
This verse connects human gratitude directly with Allah’s appreciation. It implies that when believers live gratefully—acknowledging Allah’s blessings and responding with obedience—Allah, in turn, appreciates these acts of gratitude by bestowing even more blessings. This reciprocal relationship emphasizes the idea that our acknowledgment of Allah’s favors enhances our spiritual reward, fostering a cycle of gratitude that elevates the believer’s spiritual state and brings them closer to divine mercy and favor.
The Motivating Power of Ash-Shakoor
The attribute of Ash-Shakoor not only serves to appreciate and reward but also acts as a powerful motivator for believers to engage continuously in acts of righteousness. Knowing that Allah appreciates even the smallest deeds can inspire believers to persist in their spiritual endeavors, even under challenging circumstances.
(وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا ٱلْحَزَنَ ۖ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌۭ شَكُورٌ ) فاطر 35:34
(And they will say, “Praise be to Allah, Who has removed from us [all] sorrow. Our Lord is indeed All-Forgiving, Most Appreciative.) Fatir 35:34
In this verse, believers acknowledge Allah’s attribute of Ash-Shakoor in the context of the ultimate joy and relief experienced in the hereafter. It reflects the idea that the rewards for our earthly struggles and righteous acts are not limited to worldly gains but extend to eternal happiness in the afterlife. This understanding can significantly affect a believer’s perseverance in doing good, knowing that every effort is an investment in their eternal well-being, appreciated and rewarded by Allah in ways.