How do I become more Grateful before Ramadan?

Stop trying to be more grateful and focus on being less entitled, seeing every blessing as a gift from Allah rather than something you are owed. Then list everything you have been grateful for since last Ramadan.

Lately, I've been reflecting deeply on gratitude. Initially, I treated it like a skill—something I had to work hard to achieve, always striving to be "more grateful." But this mindset left me feeling like I was falling short, unsure of how to truly embrace gratitude.

The Turning Point

I've tried different approaches, like using the Ramadan Legacy Planner and completing gratitude-focused prompts. But the biggest breakthrough for me came when I shifted my focus—from trying to be more grateful to being less entitled.

In Islam, entitlement (istehqaaq/استحقاق) is the belief that we are owed certain things in life. It's an expectation that can quietly grow within us—making blessings feel ordinary, rather than extraordinary.

The moment I started letting go of this sense of entitlement, I began to experience gratitude more naturally. I started seeing everything—not as something I deserved—but as a gift from Allah.

Gratitude Grows When Entitlement Fades

This shift has changed how I see my life. Every small blessing—my work, my home, my family—now feels like a gift, not something guaranteed.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that gratitude isn't just a feeling; it's an act of worship. By realigning my perspective with this truth, my heart feels fuller, more peaceful, and deeply connected to Allah. The Quran promises that if you are grateful, Allah will give you more.

A Practical Approach to Gratitude

If you're struggling to feel grateful, here's a suggestion: minimize your sense of entitlement to zero.

Start with a powerful affirmation:

• "I don't deserve…"

• I don't deserve my job.

• I don't deserve this meal.

• I don't deserve my kids.

When we realize that we don't actually "deserve" these blessings, our gratitude deepens, and our submission to Allah strengthens.

Reflection for This Week

This week, I'm asking myself:

• Is there someone or something in my life I've been taking for granted?

• Have I been expecting blessings instead of appreciating them?

By sense-checking my entitlement, I'm laying the foundation for genuine gratitude.

Cultivating Gratitude Before Ramadan

As Ramadan approaches, one of my key reflective exercises is to list everything I've been grateful for since last Ramadan.

This practice shifts my mindset toward positivity and abundance, preparing me to welcome Ramadan with an open and thankful heart. Research on gratitude points the same way: giving thanks is consistently linked with greater happiness.

May this journey toward gratitude enrich our faith and draw us closer to Allah as we prepare for this sacred month. 🌙

Frequently Asked Questions

What is entitlement (istehqaaq) in Islam?

Entitlement is the belief that we are owed certain things in life. It quietly makes blessings feel ordinary, so letting it go allows gratitude to grow naturally.

Why is gratitude an act of worship?

The Prophet ﷺ taught that gratitude is worship, not only a feeling, and the Quran says Allah gives more to the grateful. See actor vs witness on worship with awareness.

How do I practise gratitude when I don’t feel it?

Reduce your sense of entitlement to zero with the affirmation “I don’t deserve…” for your job, meals and family. Gratitude deepens once nothing feels guaranteed.

What is a good gratitude exercise before Ramadan?

List everything you have been grateful for since last Ramadan. The Ramadan Legacy Planner includes gratitude prompts, and preparing for Ramadan offers more steps.

Does gratitude improve wellbeing?

Yes. Harvard Health reports that gratitude is consistently linked with greater happiness, and this post shows how it also draws the heart closer to Allah.