How does saying thank you affect our day-to-day life?

Saying thank you, which takes less than 2 seconds, has such a profound impact on our daily lives that we even cannot imagine.

It's two simple phrases that can be stated casually but have a lot of meaning. It's easy to overlook the importance of a thank you. However, the warm and lovely feelings of being seen and acknowledged by someone and being informed that you made a difference in their life, may have a profound and enduring impact.

Thanking someone for a favor is more than just a formality; it's a method of letting them know we appreciate it. Thank you expresses your admiration for the effect the other person is creating for you, and it informs the other person that the effect he created was worthwhile. (I may refer to thank you as gratitude in this context because the two are interchangeable.)

Here are some reasons how thank you affects our daily lives and why you should express gratitude more frequently.

Health Benefits

Saying “Thank You” improves Mental Health

Saying thank you is the most basic kind of thankfulness, and it is the attitude of gratitude that keeps us joyful.

"We live in fast-paced times," says Gaelle Devins, aka The Happiness [People] Coach, "but by practising the act of thanking someone, you can slow things down and appreciate the time and energy the other person has given to you."

You've probably noticed that when someone says thank you, you feel instantly happier since it shows a great deal of respect for our time and work, it tells us that we're worthwhile, and we're capable of a lot of things.

By receiving Thank you we feel a lot of things, like wee feel

1. Happiness, that someone is happy because of you

2. Relaxed, You've probably noticed that when someone says thank you, your mind instantly relaxes; even if you're angry and hear someone say thank you, your anger vanishes like magic.

3. Appreciated and loved, The simplest method to express gratitude is to say "thank you." When people are complimented and praised, they become more motivated. It shows that you value their efforts.

4. You bring abundance in your life, You attract that person or other things when you say "thank you." Consider whether your friends respond favourably when you express gratitude for their presence and every effort, or when you denounce and criticise them.

You attract greater joy, happiness, and abundance when you take the time to appreciate all the ways life has been nice to you.

Saying “Thank You” improves physical health

People who are grateful have less aches and pains and report feeling healthier than others.

"Clinical investigations show that practising thankfulness can have profound and long-term consequences in one's life," said Robert A. Emmons, a UC Davis psychology professor. "It can help you sleep better, decrease your blood pressure, and increase your immune function."

People who were appreciative had improved heart health, according to a recent study from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. They had less inflammation and healthier heart rhythms.

"They demonstrated a higher sense of well-being, a less melancholy mood, less weariness, and better sleep," said Paul J. Mills, the study's lead author. "I feel more connected to myself and my environment when I am grateful." Stress has the exact opposite effect."

 

Spritual Benefits

Islam values not just offering gratitude to Allah for the blessings He bestows on us, but also mandates that we thank others for their generosity and favours. Thanking is a requirement of being a human, just as "hamd" is a requirement of being a slave (to Allah). The Islamic religion commands that people glorify Allah and express gratitude to those who help us.

When you say thank you to people, you're also saying "thank you god for sending him at the perfect time, thank you god for making him my helper, thank you god for purifying his heart for me."

"He who does not thank people does not thank Allah," stated Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. (Tirmidhi, Ahmad)

It's important noticing that he made no mention of limiting thankfulness to Muslims or believers' families. He used the Quranic term "Naas," which means "all mankind" in English. So being grateful entails being grateful to everyone, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, neighbour or stranger.

 

Thankfulness helps to avert Allah's punishment.

We can lose Allah's pleasure if we do not recognise His If Allah سبحانه و تعالى took mankind to task by that which they deserve, He would not leave a living creature on the surface of the earth; but He grants them reprieve unto an appointed term, and when their term comes  then verily Allah سبحانه و تعالىis Ever All-Seer of His slaves" he states in the Quran. Fatir Surah 35:45]

 At the same time, Allah offers us with a way to avoid that punishment by being grateful to Him. "Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked Him and trust in Him?" he asks. And Allah is All-Knowing and All-Appreciative (of good)." Qur’an. 4:147 in Surah Nisa. Gratitude is thus not a choice, and we must cleanse our hearts in order to thank Allah for what He has given us.

 

What does Qur’an says about thanking

1. Allah سبحانه و تعالى will increase our favours if we give thanks.

2. Allah سبحانه و تعالى 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.' “Qur’an.Surah Ibrahim 14:7

3. Allah سبحانه و تعالى  \does not require our gratitude or thanks; on the contrary, it is in our best interests to be grateful. 'And indeed, We granted Luqman wisdom: ‘Give thanks to God. Whoever gives thanks only for his own sake and whoever is ungrateful, then surely God is Independent, Praised Qur’an. Surah Luqman 31: 12

4. Allah سبحانه و تعالى encourages believers to remember Him and praise Him for His blessings: So remember Me, and I'll remember you; be grateful to Me, and don't be ungrateful to Me. Qur’an. 2: 152 Surah Baqarah

 

What does Hadith says about thanking

1. According to Usama Ibnu Zaid, Allah's Messenger Muhammad ﷺ said, "Whoever says "Jazakallahu khayran (May Allah give you a good reward)" to anyone who has done him a favour has thanked in the best way." 2036 Tirmidhi

2. In another hadith, it is stated that the best verbal response to a favor would be saying “Jaza’kallahu khayrun” which means “The favor you have done is so precious to me that I am unable to give the reward for it by myself; only Allah can give it. Both in the worldly life and otherworldly life, He substitutes me; may He reward you.”

3. "One who does not appreciate people does not give thanks to Allah, either," the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, remarked, according to Abu Said. Abu Dawud, 4811, Tirmidhi, 1955.

There can be no more eloquent statement than this to show how important it is to thank people according to Islam.

4. Narrated by Aisha رضي الله عنه: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to recite long night prayers, according to Aisha: "Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to offer prayer at night (for such a long time) that his feet used to crack." I said, "O Allah's Prophet! Why do you do it now that Allah has forgiven you for your previous and future transgressions?" "Shouldn't I love to be a grateful slave (of Allah)?" he asked. 6:361 [1] Sahih Al Bukhari

 

Taking the favor

It is critical to repay a favour by returning the favour. Nonetheless, it is impossible to repay each favour with a similar favour, despite the importance of doing so for humanity. In this sense, we must verbally express our gratitude. "If your arm is too short to give a reward, keep your tongue long enough to thank," some have said.

According to Allah's Messenger, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, it is necessary to repay a kindness with a similar favour. The original term for "favour" is "ataa," which meaning "gift." In our language, it is also spelled "atiyya." If it is impossible to reciprocate to a favour with a favour immediately, the person should be commended for their efforts. That is to say, we must say something that communicates our gratitude and delights the person who has done us a favour. This is accomplished by praising or praying for that individual. "One who praises has thanks," says a hadith.

 

Thank you and Jaza’kallahu khayrun for taking the time to read my article; I hope you enjoyed it and learned something new.