Episode 1In us
Humans thank, sometimes; we overlook small kindnesses
But: We notice the large and forget the small
The 99 Names · Name 35 of 99 · Act
الشَّكُورُash-Shakūr
The Appreciative, who rewards small deeds greatly
Recited as it sounds in the Qur'an, 64:17.
Heard together with: al-Ghafūr ash-Shakūr (35:30)
Start with what we know
Then take away everything it needs. What is left is not a bigger version of us. It is the Name.
Episode 1
Episode 2In nature
One seed, many grains: 2:261's image of 7 spikes × 100 grains; real wheat yields far fewer per seed: the verse is a parable of multiplication, not agronomy
Episode 3At our best
Weak: no instrument that rewards
But: n/a
Episode 4The Break
Take away forgetting, proportion (small deed, small reward), the need to be thanked first.
Not a bigger thank-you, but a reward out of all proportion to the deed.
From the tradition: Bukhari 7405: 'if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running'. Hebrews 6:10 'God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work'
On screen
George Bailey needed an angel to show him his small deeds mattered. ash-Shakūr never needed reminding.
Where it shows up
- In scripture
- Q 2:261; 35:30; 64:17; 99:7-8. Hebrews 6:10
- The same thread in Jewish and Christian scripture
- Weak-moderate. Hebrews 6:10
- In the universe
- Weak link. Honest
- In nature
- Our Planet 'From Deserts to Grasslands': grass after rain
- In people
- Unsung carers; the person who held the door
- In science
- Biology: compound growth; one bacterium dividing every 20 minutes
Watch and listen
Films, documentaries and voices that reach towards this Name. Each links out to where you can watch it.
Sources for this page
api.quran.com; hadith-api Bukhari 7405; bible-api.com Heb 6:10