Discover the meaning of the term Shukr (شكر) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 3 min readIt is a gratitude answering the favor, whether by tongue, hand or heart. Said: it is the praise of the benefactor recalling his benevolence; the servant thanks Allah, that is, praises Him recalling His benevolence which is the favor; and Allah thanks the servant, that is, praises him accepting his benevolence which is his obedience.
In the honorable terminologies, the charifiyya: a gratitude answering the favor, by tongue, hand or heart. Said: the praise of the benefactor recalling his benevolence; the servant thanks Allah praising Him by recalling His benevolence which is His favor, and Allah thanks the servant praising him by accepting his benevolence which is his obedience. Lexical choukr: describing by the beautiful in veneration and homage for the favor, by tongue, hearts and limbs. Customary choukr: the servant devoting all Allah gave him, hearing, sight and other, to what they were created for. Between lexical and customary choukr is general and particular absolutely, as between customary hamd and lexical choukr; and likewise lexical and customary hamd: general and particular from one angle. As between lexical hamd and lexical choukr too; and between customary hamd and customary choukr: general and particular absolutely. As between customary choukr and lexical hamd likewise; and no difference between lexical choukr and customary hamd.
Conceiving the favor among favors, expressing it by tongue and limbs, acknowledging the Donor’s favor in humility.
The lexical: describing by the beautiful in veneration for the favor, by tongue, hearts and limbs.
It is a gratitude answering the favor, whether by tongue, hand or heart.
﴿وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌۭ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِي۟ن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَـٰبِكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًۭٔا ۗ وَسَيَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ﴾
« Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all; but Allah will reward the grateful. »
Surah آل عمران : 144
﴿وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ كِتَـٰبًۭا مُّؤَجَّلًۭا ۗ وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِۦ مِنْهَا وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِۦ مِنْهَا ۚ وَسَنَجْزِى ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ﴾
« And it is not [possible] for one to die except by permission of Allah at a decree determined. And whoever desires the reward of this world - We will give him thereof; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter - We will give him thereof. And we will reward the grateful. »
Surah آل عمران : 145
﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍۢ لِّيَقُولُوٓا۟ أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنۢ بَيْنِنَآ ۗ أَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ﴾
« And thus We have tried some of them through others that the disbelievers might say, "Is it these whom Allah has favored among us?" Is not Allah most knowing of those who are grateful? »
Surah الأنعام : 53
﴿قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُۥ تَضَرُّعًۭا وَخُفْيَةًۭ لَّئِنْ أَنجَىٰنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ﴾
« Say, "Who rescues you from the darknesses of the land and sea [when] you call upon Him imploring [aloud] and privately, 'If He should save us from this [crisis], we will surely be among the thankful.' " »
Surah الأنعام : 63
﴿ثُمَّ لَـَٔاتِيَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَـٰكِرِينَ﴾
« Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You]." »
Surah الأعراف : 17
﴿قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّى ٱصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَـٰلَـٰتِى وَبِكَلَـٰمِى فَخُذْ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ﴾
« [Allah] said, "O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful." »
Surah الأعراف : 144
This term appears in 13 verses of the Quran.