Maimuna Akhter: Gratitude increases blessings. And if you are ungrateful, there is a great punishment. In some cases Allah takes away the blessings from the ungrateful. There is a beautiful lesson in this regard in an incident narrated in the hadith.

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA), the Holy Prophet (SAW) said, Three people from Bani Israel, one of them was white, one was bald, and the other was blind. Allah wanted to test them. So he sent an angel to them. The angel first came to the white patient and asked, what is your favorite thing? He said, 'Beautiful complexion and beautiful skin!'

The angel then laid hands on him, and immediately his disease was cured and his complexion and skin became beautiful.

Then the angel said to him, tell about your most loved wealth! He said, Camel. Then he was given a pregnant camel. The angel prayed for him—may God bless you with it. Then the angel went to the Teko man.

He also asked, what is your favorite thing? She said, 'Nice hair. People who dislike me for this baldness!'

The angel then touched his head, and immediately his baldness disappeared and his head was covered with beautiful hair. Then the angel said to him, tell about your most loved wealth! He said, cow. He was then given a pregnant cow. The angel prayed for him—may God bless you with it.

Finally the angel went to the blind man. Same question to him; What is your favorite thing?

He said, 'If God had given me back my sight, I would have been able to see people.' The angel then waved his hand, and immediately his sight returned to his eyes. Then the angel said to him, what is your favorite wealth? He said, Goat. He was then given a pregnant goat. The angel prayed for him—may God bless you with it.

Then Allah blessed their camels, cows and goats enough. Some have camels, some have cows and some have goats. The angel came again. First he went to the owner of the camel and said, I am poor, I have lost everything in the journey. I have no way without God's help. He has given you beautiful complexion, beautiful skin and this wealth.

By Allah give me a camel so that I can complete my journey and return. He said, I have to pay how many people! (I can't give you.) The angel then said, I think I know you. Didn't you have leprosy, because of which people disliked you? Then Allah gave you these things. He said, these are the wealth of my father and grandfather! The angel said, "If you have lied, then may Allah return you to the state you were in."

Then the angel went to the owner of the cow. He asked him for help in the same language. He returned in the same language. The angel made the same curse for him; If you have lied, then may Allah return you to the state you were in.

Now the angel went to the owner of the goat and said, I am a poor traveler, I have lost everything in the journey. I have no choice without God's help. He has healed your eyes and given you this wealth.

For God's sake give me a goat, that I may return after my journey. He said, I was blind, God made my eyes good; I was poor, He gave me wealth. You can take whatever you want. I won't tell you anything you take. The angel said, keep your wealth with you; You have been tested, Allah is pleased with you and He is displeased with your two companions. (Bukhari, Hadith: 3464)