Sacred texts · Islam
28 Quran verses about gratitude and praise
Gratitude, shukr in Arabic, runs all through the Quran: the first surah begins with praise (“Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.”), and many verses invite you to recognize the favors you have received. This page brings together about thirty of them in four groups: gratitude that brings increase, ordinary blessings, praise, and what lasts.
The verses are quoted from Marmaduke Pickthall’s English translation (1930), and on the French page from Albin de Biberstein Kazimirski’s (1840). Both are in the public domain, and every verse was checked word for word against their text, with its surah and verse number. For a daily practice, you can pair these verses with Selfia’s gratitude affirmations; other themes are waiting on the main page of Quran verses.
Gratitude that brings increase
Verse 14:7 is the most quoted on gratitude: “If ye give thanks, I will give you more.” The other verses in this group add that thankfulness benefits first the one who gives thanks (31:12, 27:40), and that God’s favors are too many to count (16:18).
If ye give thanks, I will give you more.
Therefore remember Me, I will remember you. Give thanks to Me.
Give thanks unto Allah; and whosoever giveth thanks, he giveth thanks for (the good of) his soul.
This is of the bounty of my Lord, that He may try me whether I give thanks or am ungrateful. Whosoever giveth thanks he only giveth thanks for (the good of) his own soul.
My Lord, arouse me to be thankful for Thy favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and to do good that shall be pleasing unto Thee.
Eat of the provision of your Lord and render thanks to Him. A fair land and an indulgent Lord.
And if ye would count the favour of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! Allah is indeed Forgiving, Merciful.
Counting ordinary blessings
The Quran names blessings so ordinary that people forget them: hearing, sight and hearts (23:78), the night for rest and the day for livelihood (28:73, 78:9–11), sleep itself (25:47). Several verses note with regret how little thanks people give, as in 7:10.
And whatever of comfort ye enjoy, it is from Allah. Then, when misfortune reacheth you, unto Him ye cry for help.
O mankind! Remember Allah’s grace toward you! Is there any creator other than Allah who provideth for you from the sky and the earth?
And We have given you (mankind) power in the earth, and appointed for you therein livelihoods. Little give ye thanks!
He it is Who hath created for you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanks give ye!
Of His mercy hath He appointed for you night and day, that therein ye may rest, and that ye may seek His bounty, and that haply ye may be thankful.
Allah it is Who hath appointed for you night that ye may rest therein, and day for seeing. Lo! Allah is a Lord of bounty for mankind.
And He it is Who maketh night a covering for you, and sleep repose.
And have appointed your sleep for repose, And have appointed the night as a cloak, And have appointed the day for livelihood.
Verses of praise
Gratitude also becomes praise: Abraham thanking God for the children given to him in old age (14:39), the words that close Surah 37, and the last verse of Surah Ar-Rahman on the blessed name of the Lord (55:78). Verse 31:31 joins the steadfast and the grateful heart.
Praise be to Allah Who hath given me, in my old age, Ishmael and Isaac! Lo! my Lord is indeed the Hearer of Prayer.
And peace be unto those sent (to warn). And praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!
Blessed be the name of thy Lord, Mighty and glorious!
Bring thy people forth from darkness unto light. And remind them of the days of Allah. Lo! therein are revelations for each steadfast, thankful (heart).
Hast thou not seen how the ships glide on the sea by Allah’s grace, that He may show you of His wonders? Lo! therein indeed are portents for every steadfast, grateful (heart).
Thou causest the night to pass into the day, and Thou causest the day to pass into the night. And Thou bringest forth the living from the dead, and Thou bringest forth the dead from the living. And Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou choosest, without stint.
So let them worship the Lord of this House, Who hath fed them against hunger and hath made them safe from fear.
What lasts, and what you give
The last group puts gratitude in perspective: the goods of this world are an ornament, while good deeds endure (18:46). It ends with giving that expects nothing back, from those who feed others wishing for no reward nor thanks (76:9).
And whatsoever ye have been given is a comfort of the life of the world and an ornament thereof; and that which Allah hath is better and more lasting.
Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of the world. But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord’s sight for reward, and better in respect of hope.
Our Lord! Give unto us in the world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good.
Who giveth his wealth that he may grow (in goodness). And none hath with him any favour for reward, Except as seeking (to fulfil) the purpose of his Lord Most High. He verily will be content.
We feed you, for the sake of Allah only. We wish for no reward nor thanks from you.
Ye will not attain unto piety until ye spend of that which ye love. And whatsoever ye spend, Allah is Aware thereof.
How to practice gratitude with these verses
A simple exercise: in the evening, read verse 16:18, then write down three good things from your day, however small, a meal, a message, a quiet moment. The second group on this page can give you ideas, since it names gifts people tend to forget: sleep, sight, the turn of night and day.
You can also keep 14:7 as your morning verse and reread it whenever a complaint comes up. Gratitude doesn’t ask you to deny what is going wrong; it simply sets what is going right beside it.
In the Selfia app, the Islam path (Settings › Spirituality) adds Quran verses in a separate section, and the journal offers gratitude prompts.
Frequently asked questions
Which Quran verse is about gratitude?
The best known is verse 7 of Surah Ibrahim (14), which Pickthall renders “If ye give thanks, I will give you more.” Other verses return to the theme, such as 2:152, which links remembering God with giving thanks, and 31:12, which points out that whoever gives thanks does so for the good of their own soul.
What does shukr mean?
Shukr is the Arabic word for gratitude, the acknowledgment of a favor. In the Quran it is the opposite of kufr, a word that means both ingratitude and disbelief. Pickthall renders it with “thanks” or “thankful,” Kazimirski with “reconnaissance” or “actions de grâces.” Ash-Shakur, “the Appreciative,” is also one of the names of God.
What is the difference between gratitude and praise?
Gratitude answers a favor received; praise (hamd) celebrates God for who He is, even without a particular favor in mind. The Quran often brings them together: the opening surah begins with “Al-hamdu lillah,” praise be to God, and the third group on this page shows thankfulness turning into praise.