الشكور
ASH-SHAKUR
The Most Appreciative, rewarding little with much
Meaning and Explanation
Ash-Shakur comes from the root for gratitude in an intensive form; it expresses that just as a servant is grateful, God meets a servant's small good deed with a great reward — a name that reminds us of the directional difference between human gratitude and God's own "gratitude." In Surah Fatir, this name is mentioned in the context of the doers of good being paid their rewards in full and God giving even more from His bounty; in Surah At-Taghabun, it appears paired with Al-Halim (the Forbearing).
Traditional Note — Abjad Value
This name's abjad (letter numerical value) calculation is 526.
Letter-by-letter abjad calculation (root "شكور", excluding the definite article): ش (300) + ك (20) + و (6) + ر (200) = 526.
This number is not a religious prescription or a guarantee of any outcome.
This Name in the Quran
Dhikr Counter
Dhikr Counter
Historical abjad note: this name's abjad value is 526; reciting a specific count carries no religious obligation.
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Dhikr Tradition
Some sources describe reciting Ash-Shakur after doing a small good deed, with the intention of reinforcing trust that God rewards greatly, as a traditional practice; no specific count (including 526) carries a religious obligation.
Remembrance (dhikr) through the beautiful names is a foundational act of worship in Islam. However, reciting a name a specific number of times (based on its abjad value) or at a specific day/time carries no religious obligation, and scholars are not unanimous on this point — some accept it as a traditional practice, others hold it has no basis in the primary sources. The information on this page does not constitute religious ruling.
Understanding This Name
Small obedience is not lost
Ash-Shakur is commonly explained as the One who appreciates and rewards faithful effort abundantly. Fatir 35:29–30 mentions recitation, prayer, and spending, then names God forgiving and appreciative. The name gives hope that unseen good is known. It does not create a fixed exchange rate by which a person can calculate divine reward or treat worship as a commercial transaction.
Learning to acknowledge human effort
A limited ethical response is to notice contributions that usually disappear: care work, quiet maintenance, correction, and small acts of honesty. Thanking people does not compete with thanking God; it recognizes the means through which benefit arrived. Appreciation should be specific and fair, not manipulative praise used to obtain more unpaid labor.
Other Names
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a person calculate exactly how much reward Ash-Shakur will give?
No. Revelation may describe virtues, but an individual cannot turn divine reward into a guaranteed private calculation.
Sources
- Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Kur'an Yolu Tefsiri (Fâtır 35:30, Teğâbün 64:17)
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, "Şekûr" maddesi
- İbn Manzûr, Lisânü'l-Arab, “ş-k-r” maddesi
- English Translation — Noor International Center (v1.1.2)
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam — Esmâ-i Hüsnâ — in Turkish
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — The 99 Names of God — in Turkish
Prepared by: Kadir Özbek · Updated: