Islam is a religion for the society, therefore, it expects from its followers to develop a society where every individual works towards helping and taking care of each other and where the rule of goodness prevails. All the instructions that Islam bring are with the objective that people could change their lives for the better and continue living them in a better manner. Allah says:
مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
“Whatever (is) with you will be exhausted, and whatever (is) with Allah (will) be remaining. And surely We will pay those who (are) patient their reward to (the) best (of) what they used (to) do.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:96)
Islam has given us clear rules of what is obligatory, what is recommended, what is forbidden and what is not recommended. Shari’ah teaches us priorities and we must keep this in mind in all circumstances. All work is religious if it is done with the awareness of Allah, observing the rules of Allah and for the benefit of His creation. Allah says:
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
“O Children (of) Adam! Verily We have sent down to you clothing, it covers your shame and (as) an adornment. But the clothing (of) [the] righteousness – that (is) best. That (is) from (the) Signs of Allah so that they may remember.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:26)
When one realizes the importance of good character and its essentiality in defining righteousness, an aspect which is the goal of Islam, this exhorts Muslims to fulfil this aspect of faith as well, since one can not become “righteous” through mere belief and devotion to God in themselves without good character. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ
“Truly, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous good deeds to Gardens underneath which rivers flow (in Paradise). Verily, Allah does what He wills.” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:14)
Here is some importance with huge rewards in Islam:
- Righteous deeds serve as a divine guard against the trials
- Righteous deeds remove the fear of failure in our chores
- Righteous deeds follow up a bad deed with a good one
- Righteous deeds encourage goodness and forbid evil
- Righteous deeds activate derive the pleasure of Allah
- Righteous deeds strive for the pleasure of Allah
- Righteous deeds remove the fear of enraging
- Righteous deeds avoid that which is wrong
- Righteousness is to define your success
- Righteousness is breaking off the fast
- Righteousness is Istighfar to yourself
- Righteousness is to show the effort
- Righteousness is to help a friend in need
- Righteousness is a remembrance of Allah
- Righteousness is to create habits of goals
- Righteousness is to teach an elderly person
- Righteousness is glorifying and Praising Allah
- Righteousness is asked for Allah’s forgiveness
- Righteousness is thought of as something well
- Righteousness is attending lectures in the Masjid
- Righteousness is donated to a local charity or event
- Righteousness is always thanking Allah for everything
- Righteousness is meeting your brother with a happy face
- Righteousness is taking your neighbour’s trash to the curb
- Righteousness is to help someone who looks lost with directions
The way a believer does righteous deeds proves his mettle. His deeds indicate his perseverance, stability, determination and loyalty-in other words the depth of his faith. In the Quran, God informs us about the various kinds of righteous deeds. Communicating the message of Islam to people, striving for the prosperity and the benefit of the Muslims, trying to attain a better understanding of the Quran. Allah says:
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَا يَخَافُ ظُلْمًا وَلَا هَضْمًا
“But (he) who does of the righteous deeds while he (is) a believer, then not he will fear injustice and not deprivation.” (Surah Ta-Ha 20:112)
Islam emphasizes the right beliefs and right actions. Being an action-oriented religion, Islam encourages its followers to be active and work hard, all within the framework of right and good deeds. In Islam, there is no sharp division between secular work and religious work.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“And those who strive for Us, We will surely, guide them (to) Our ways. And indeed, Allah surely (is) with the good-doers.” (Surah Al-‘Ankabut 29:69)
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا
“Indeed, those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be Gardens (of) the Paradise (as) a lodging,” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:107)
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
“Allah has promised those who believe and do the righteous deeds – for them (is) forgiveness and a reward great.” (Surah Al-Ma`idah 5:9)
The way a believer does righteous deeds proves his mettle. His deeds indicate his perseverance, stability, determination and loyalty-in other words the depth of his faith. In the Quran, God informs us about the various kinds of righteous deeds. Allah says:
لَن تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
“Never will you attain [the] righteousness until you spend from what you love. And whatever you spend of a thing then indeed, Allah of it (is) All-Knowing.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:92)
Communicating the message of Islam to people, striving for the prosperity and the benefit of the Muslims, trying to attain a better understanding of the Quran. Allah says:
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
“Whoever does righteous deeds whether male or female while he (is) a believer, then surely We will give him l a life good, and We will pay them their reward to (the) best of what they used (to) do.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:97)
When you feel the energy back in your heart, when getting up for Fajr, when memorizing the dua and when giving charity starts to seem easy after all: thank Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) for accepting your du’aa and thank Him a lot as Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) says,
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
“Whoever does righteous deeds whether male or female while he (is) a believer, then surely We will give him l a life good, and We will pay them their reward to (the) best of what they used (to) do.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:97)
Allah has made many good deeds for us, acts of worship and kindness towards others, which are easy to do and are greatly rewarded. These deeds might appear small in the sight of people but they can become as heavy as mountains on the scale of good on the Day of Resurrection. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
”O you who believe !! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him you worship.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:172)
We should bear in mind that the most remarkable sign of a righteous Muslim is that he always belittles his acts of worship when compared with the bounties and blessings of Allaah. May Allah guide us to see our mistakes and seek forgiveness for them, and may He make our hearts firm in His obedience, Aameen!
