By Imam Mashood Dagbo
Ungratefulness in Islam refers to the deliberate neglect of the source of blessings or intentional rejection of the blessings and favours either from Allah or humans. It is considered a serious moral flaw that undermines faith, race, ethnicity, individuality and community. Meanwhile, cultivating the attitude of being grateful occupies a central part of a Muslim’s daily life and also an integral aspect of our belief as Allah says in al-Qur’an: “So remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful” (Q2:152).
Indeed, the ungratefulness is expressed in many forms as contained in the definition early quoted either towards Allah or fellow beings, and it also instituted in Islam to have dare consequences on the perpetuators, such that makes some ungrateful women to be the dwellers of Hellfire on the Day of Judgment. While the two major forms are:
1. Ungratefulness toward Allah: This means denying His provision, forgetting His signs, or refusing to worship Him after being given mercy. Allah categorically warned in the Qur’an (14:7) that ingratitude leads to punishment (14:7).
2. Ungratefulness toward Fellow Beings: This refers to failing to acknowledge kindness, especially from spouses, parents, friends, relatives, husbands, well wishers or the community.
This immoral attitude, is further described as a characteristic of the disbelievers (kuffār) and can erode one’s deeds, as the Prophet said, “Charity is destroyed by ingratitude” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 1846). However, the immoral act of ungratefulness can be guarded by the following:
1. Remember Allah’s Favour: To reflect regularly on the blessings you receive (food, health, relationships).
2. Expressing Thanks: To say “Al‑hamdulillah” and show appreciation in actions, not just words.
3. Be mindful of Humans’ Kindness: To acknowledge help, return favours when possible, and avoid the habit of taking things for granted.
The women, on the other hand, who occupy the center of discussion of this piece, are regarded as full human beings with the same moral responsibility and spiritual potential as men. They are honored as mothers, daughters, sisters, in-laws and wives. The peculiarity of women in this context reflected the equality in Islam to reward and punish both males and females the same. This is contained in Qur’an 4:124 that both men and women are created from a single soul and will be judged on the basis of their deeds. So, singling out the ungratefulness regarding women in this piece revolved around these reasons:
1. Social Context: In the Arabian society of the Century, many women were economically dependent on their husbands. The Prophet’s (SAW) warning highlighted a particular risk for that setting when women displeased would reject the very source (husband) of her protection and provision
2. Moral Connotation: The statement that women are the majority of Hellfire dwellers is didactic, not a statistical verdict on all women. It stresses that gratitude (shukr) is a fundamental moral virtue for both genders; when it is absent, the consequences are severe.
Evidently, one of the respected scholars in Islam, Shaykh al‑Qurtubi noted that “majority” indicates a tendency, not an absolute rule; many women will be among the righteous. While, Shaykh Ibn Hajar al‑Asqalani explained that the “ungratefulness” refers to a pattern of rejecting both divine rules of Allah and marital rights, which, if persistent, leads to Hell‑fire.
Admittedly, the ungratefulness of women towards their husbands that would lead them to Hellfire is the focus of this week’s piece which centres on the Hadith related thus by Ibn ‘Abbas who reported the Prophet (SAW) saying: “I was shown the Hell-fire and that the majority of its dwellers were women who were ungrateful.” It was asked, “Do they disbelieve in Allah?” (or are they ungrateful to Allah?) He replied, “They are ungrateful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favours and the good (charitable deeds) done to them. If you have always been good (benevolent) to one of them and then she sees something in you (not of her liking), she will say, ‘I have never received any good from you (Sahih al-Bukhari, 29).
The Hadith is further elaborated by analysing its lessons for in-depth understanding of the importance of being grateful to Allah and to whoever has done us good, especially to husbands by their wives, as well as its jurisprudential implications as reminders, are as follows:
1. The Hadith highlights the significance of gratitude in Islam and also establishes that ungratefulness to Allah’s blessings and favours as well as to humans’ favour, leads to severe consequences in this life and hereafter.
2. Hadith teaches Muslims to cultivate the sense of gratitude towards Allah and humans whenever they are bestowed with provisions and bounties, because such provisions are lacking by some.
3. Hadith specifically mentions women’s ingratitude to their husbands as a reason for being considered as dwellers of Hellfire on the Day of Judgment
4. Hadith emphasizes the importance of treating spouses with kindness, respect and gratitude as well as reciprocating the kindness towards one another for the love to grow older
5. Hadith encourages Muslims to appreciate and acknowledge the good deeds and favours done by others towards them in order to gain more and invite blessings of Allah
6. Hadith teaches Muslims to be mindful of their behaviour towards others, especially spouses, children, relatives, friends and those who ask for the favours.
7. Hadith warns Muslims of severe consequences for ingratitude, including being thrown into Hellfire .
8. Hadith emphasizes the importance of fulfilling spousal rights and discourages minding the ungratefulness towards the kindness extended and considered doing it as adherence to Allah’s order.
9. Hadith reminds Muslims to be doing good always and holding accountable for their actions and behaviours towards others, including their spouses.
Prayers:
Please, O Allah! As we witnessed the fourth Jumua’h in the month of Jumādāl-Ūla, 1447 AH, may He bless us with blessings He bestowed the month, relieve our worries, accept our prayers and requests, put in our minds tranquility, faith and guidance
O Allah, help us to guide our children, wives, friends, and relatives in worship and character, provide for us to take care of our children and wives adequately, and to also be able to assist our friends and relatives in terms of need and comfort and make us friends who will dwell together in al-Jannah al-Firdaws on the Day of Judgement.
O Allah! We confessed our sins before you and hardship we are going through, please forgive us and cushion the effect of the hardship by Your Mighty and guide our leaders on their plans to better our standard of living and alleviate our abject poverty that is killing us, save us from bad governance, protect Muslims from all worrying lands, save all Muslims from the calamities of our time and restore the world and Nigeria in particular, back to normal from pandemic, insecurity, hunger, banditry, kidnapping, war and other social evils rampaging the world with the blessings you accorded this month. Amin
Imam Yusuf Mashood Dagbo is the Chief Imam, Government Girls Day Secondary School, GGDSS Central Mosque, Okesuna, Ilorin, Kwara State & Director, YUMAD Consults, specializes in educational consultancy, cultural orientation, marriage counselling, event organization, public presentation, columnist, etc.
