People generally consider only worldly possessions and luxuries as blessings, while in reality this is not the case. If worldly luxuries, an abundance of wealth and status were divine blessings, Allah would not have kept them away from His messengers, prophets and beloved ones.
Blessings from Allah include life, health, intellect, faith, sustenance, children, rain, etc. In short, all the amenities of earth and sky that benefit humans are blessings. Therefore, according to the teachings of Islam, a blessing is not merely the acquisition of wealth, but rather anything that provides benefit in this world and the Hereafter is a blessing. Allah Almighty bestows countless blessings upon His servants, to the extent that counting them is impossible.
Countless Blessings of Allah
Allah says in the Quran:
وَ اٰتٰىكُمْ مِّنْ كُلِّ مَا سَاَلْتُمُوْهُ ؕ وَ اِنْ تَعُدُّوْا نِعْمَتَ اللّٰهِ لَا تُحْصُوْهَا ؕ اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ لَظَلُوْمٌ كَفَّارٌ۠
And He has provided you with everything you demanded from Him (for your needs). If you count the blessings of Allah, you will not be able to number them. Indeed, human being is most unjust (and) ungrateful.
(Surah Ibrahim – 34)
وَ اِنْ تَعُدُّوْا نِعْمَةَ اللّٰهِ لَا تُحْصُوْهَا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَغَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ
And if you were to count the blessings of Allah, you would never be able to count them. Indeed, Allah is Most-Forgiving, All-Merciful.
(Surah An-Nahl – 18)
Imam Ghazali says that every good, every pleasure, every happiness and indeed every desired thing is effectively a blessing. [Ahya-ul-uloom]
The reality is that man enjoys Allah’s mercy and blessings at all times, but he often fails to recognise or count them. If a man reflects, then the very creation of human existence, the perfect functioning of all limbs and the five senses, the availability of comfort and necessities, knowledge, intellect, understanding and consciousness, the ability to recognise the truth and believe in it, and despite countless sins and acts of disobedience, not only being safe from Allah’s punishment but also the continuous descent of His mercy, are all Allah’s blessings. Allah says in the Quran:
فَبِاَیِّ اٰلَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِ
Then which of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny?
(Surah Ar-Rahman – 18)
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said:
Two blessings are such that many people fail to appreciate them: health and free time.
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6412)
Categories of Divine Blessings
Dividing the blessings of Allah into different categories reflects the reality that a person is constantly surrounded by the favours and kindness of their Lord and is never outside them even for a single moment. Some of these blessings are apparent and temporary, while others are inner and lasting.
A truly wise and intelligent person is the one who recognises these blessings, expresses genuine gratitude to Allah for them, and uses them purely in pursuit of His pleasure and closeness.
Apparent and Temporary Blessings
These are the blessings related to this apparent material world and can be perceived and felt through our senses. They are necessary to living in the world. For example, health, strength, youth, honour, wealth, business, children, family, worldly knowledge and wisdom, and all the resources required to sustain life. Human success lies in acknowledging these blessings as gifts from Allah, never being arrogant about them, nor adopting a path of ingratitude. Rather, one should consider all these blessings merely as a means of temporary trial, as Allah states:
وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّمَاۤ اَمْوَالُكُمْ وَ اَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۙ وَّ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ عِنْدَهٗۤ اَجْرٌ عَظِیْمٌ۠
Know that your possessions and your children are only a test (and temptation) and that Allah—with Him is an excellent reward.
(Surah Al-Anfal – 28)
The best strategy for a believer is to make apparent blessings a means of attaining inner and spiritual blessings. For example, health should be used for the worship of Allah, wealth and riches for paying zakat and giving charity, and knowledge and wisdom for promoting and spreading the teachings of Islam. As stated in the Prophetic Hadith:
The world is the cultivation ground for the Hereafter. (Musnad Ahmad)
Esoteric and Permanent Blessings
These are the blessings that enlighten the heart and soul. They guide a person towards righteous path. They take one on the path of closeness and recognition of Allah. Among the means of acquiring these are purification of the Self, love of Allah, piety, virtuous manners, contemplation and constant remembrance of Allah, along with the strict observance of prayer, fasting and the attainment of self-realisation through sincere intention.
Therefore, a true blessing is that which takes a person on the path of closeness and recognition of Allah, whether it is obtained through apparent blessings or inner blessings.
Imam Ghazali (RA) says: Material blessings are like a boat that helps in the journey of the afterlife, but spiritual blessings are the true purpose of that journey.
Shaikh Sa’adi says in Gulistan: Worldly blessings are like a shadow that passes away. But the blessings of piety are like a shady tree whose roots are deep.
The universe and everything within it is the creation of Allah, serving as signs of His greatness and wisdom and proof of His majesty. Therefore, denying any object or blessing through disobedience or by committing grave sins is actually denying the gift of Allah.
The Need for Purification of the Self
However, the problem arises when a person forgets Allah and begins to rely solely on apparent causes and blessings. Therefore, this should be avoided, and this is only possible if a person dedicates every action to gaining the knowledge of Allah and attaining closeness to Him.
Sincerity of intention is possible through the attainment of purification of the Self and self-realisation, which are great inner blessings. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكّٰىهَا۪ۙ
Indeed, he will succeed who purifies it.
(Surah Ash-Shams – 9)
Purification of the Self means that the heart, inner self, or soul becomes cleansed from blameworthy impurities (lying, arrogance, jealousy, malice, and hatred etc.) and is transformed into a state adorned with noble and virtuous qualities.
Now the question arises: How can the purification of the Self be achieved in order to obtain the true blessing, which is closeness to and union with Allah?
In this regard, Sultan-ul-Faqr VII, Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman states:
Excessive engagement in outward acts of worship can sometimes cause the Self to become rebellious and fall into the grip of arrogance and ego. However, through the company of a perfect spiritual guide and by progressing in the invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat, the purification of the self gradually takes place.
Therefore, in the present age, in order to gain freedom from the dominance of the Self, Satan, and worldly influences, the companionship of a perfect spiritual guide and the practice of dhikr and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat are essential.
In the current era, Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman is regarded as the perfect spiritual guide. The focus of his teachings is the invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat. It would not be incorrect to say that his blessed personality represents that complete and perfect being who is the centre of Faqr and bestows the grace of Ism-Allah-Zaat. It is not possible to reach Allah without his companionship and following his teachings.
Note:
This is English translation of Urdu نعمتِ الہی article that was published in March 2026 issue of the monthly Sultan-ul-Faqr Magazine. Mrs Anila Yaseen Sarwari Qadri wrote the original article. Zahid Anjum Siddiqui has translated it in English.