In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah, The Most High, said:

وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
وَٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۢ بِقَدَرٍ فَأَنشَرْنَا بِهِۦ بَلْدَةً مَّيْتًا كَذَٰلِكَ تُخْرَجُونَ
وَٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَزْوَٰجَ كُلَّهَا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْفُلْكِ وَٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ مَا تَرْكَبُونَ
لِتَسْتَوُۥا۟ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِۦ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا ٱسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقْرِنِينَ
وَإِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ

And indeed if you ask them, “Who has created the heavens and the earth?” They will surely say: “The All-Mighty, the All-Knower created them.”

Who has made for you the earth like a bed, and has made for you roads therein, in order that you may find your way,

And Who sends down water (rain) from the sky in due measure. Then We revive a dead land therewith, and even so you will be brought forth (from the dead),

And Who has created all the pairs and has appointed for you ships and cattle on which you ride,

In order that you may mount firmly on their backs, and then may remember the Favour of your Lord when you mount thereon, and say: “Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, and we could never have it (by our efforts). And verily, to Our Lord we indeed are to return!” [Az-Zukhruf 9-14]

لِتَسْتَوُوا عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا اسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ
وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ

In order that you may mount on their backs, and then may remember the Favour of your Lord when you mount thereon, and say: “Glory to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we could never have it (by our efforts).  And verily, to Our Lord we indeed are to return!” [Az-Zukhruf. 13-14]

Imam As-Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Mentioned are the three pillars of gratitude and they are:

To acknowledge Allah’s blessings, proclaim Allah’s blessings, praise Allah for them, submit to Allah and utilise them to carry out acts of worship for the sake of Allah (alone). This is because the intent behind the statement of Allah:

وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ

“And verily, to Our Lord we indeed are to return” is an acknowledgement of recompense and being prepared for it.

The objective behind these favours is that they are an aid through which a person fulfils that which Allah has commanded him.

And regarding Allah’s statement:

ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا اسْتَوَيْتُمْ

“And then may remember the favour of your Lord when you mount thereon”.

This is a specific mention of the (favour) at the time in (which the person enjoys those favours) because blessings intoxicates many amongst the creation, makes them heedless, evil and ungrateful. Thus, this state in which Allah commanded (a person to remember Him for His Favours) is a remedy for this destructive ailment. When the servant of Allah recalls that he is completely surrounded by Allah’s blessings and that nothing is from himself, but rather blessings are (from Allah), -lits means are facilitated and its obtainment made easy (by Allah), he submits to Allah, humbles himself, thanks and praises Allah, and through this he is given continuous blessings. [1]

Sulayman Bin Yasaar, may Allah have mercy upon him, reported that some people were on a journey, then they said before departing:

سُـبْحانَ الَّذي سَخَّـرَ لَنا هذا وَما كُنّا لَهُ مُقْـرِنين
وَإِنّا إِلى رَبِّنـا لَمُنْقَـلِبون

“Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, and we could never have it (by our efforts). And verily, to Our Lord we indeed are to return”.

A man among them, who possessed a strong she-camel, said, “As for me, I shall indeed arrive at night using this sturdy she-camel.” However, the camel threw him off, resulting in a broken neck. [2]

[1] An Excerpt from Fataawa Sa’diyyah 61

[2] “Al-Uqoobaat” by Ibn Abee Dunyah. 316.