Helping others gives us a sense of purpose and satisfaction

Every Good Deed is Rewarded as Charity

Every good deed is charity. Verily, it is a good deed to meet your brother with a smiling face and to pour what is left from your bucket into the vessel of your brother.

A Muslim has to exert efforts to do righteous deeds as much as he can. By doing good deeds, his life shall be good, his soul will feel comfortable, and his relationships with the people around him shall be good if his intention is good. The good deeds mentioned by the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention )include deeds with general benefits, such as reconciling people and helping a man concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it by lifting his luggage onto it. Allah says:

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed of grain which grows seven spikes, in each spike is a hundred grains. Allah multiplies the reward for whomever He wills, for Allah is vast and knowing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261)

Every good word, beautiful deed and perfect morals towards relatives and strangers. Be keen on the goodness to people through teaching knowledge, enjoining good such as maintaining ties of kinship, dutifulness to parents, reconciling people, offering some useful advice or right opinion, cooperation in righteousness and piety, and forbidding evil or guiding to obtain an interest, whether religious or worldly. Allah says:

آمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَأَنفِقُوا مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَأَنفَقُوا لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ

“Believe in Allah and His apostle, and spend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs. For, those of you who believe and spend (in charity),- for them is a great Reward.”  (Surah Al-Hadid, 57:7)

Doing a deed and doing the deed with good intentions are separate things. The intention that doing this deed will reward a Muslim with virtues and help to attain the mercy of Allah in this world and afterwards then this surely is a base that Allah will accept the deed and will reward accordingly.

Here are some benefits of good deeds in Islam which don’t require a lot of effort:

  1. Good deeds praying in a congregation in the mosque
  2. Good deeds make a cup of tea for your loved one
  3. Good deeds to visiting a mosque for knowledge
  4. Good deeds feed someone homeless/in need
  5. Good deeds showing Sincerity to Allah SWT
  6. Good deeds make us live in a better manner
  7. Good deeds upholding the ties of kinship
  8. Good deeds greet everyone with a smile
  9. Good deeds remove the harmful things
  10. Good deeds to wipe out the bad deeds
  11. Good deeds are a Charity
  12. Good deeds are Thankful to Allah
  13. Good deeds to avoid procrastination
  14. Good deeds treat people with respect
  15. Good deeds to be rewarded by Jannah
  16. Good deeds erase the sins we committed
  17. Good deeds ask for forgiveness every day
  18. Good deeds to remember Allah in every step
  19. Good deeds represent the Real image of Islam
  20. Good deeds visit someone who is ill/in hospital
  21. Good deeds uplifting message to someone in need
  22. Good deeds are clear-out and donate items you don’t use

In Islam, good deeds become one of the most important aspects. Good deeds have many forms: helping people, doing charity, fulfilling the obligation toward God. Those things represent the real image of our religion, Islam, in the most perfect way. Allah says:

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَا يُتْبِعُونَ مَا أَنفَقُوا مَنًّا وَلَا أَذًى لَّهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

“Those who spend their substance in the cause of Allah, and follow not up to their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury,-for them their reward is with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:262)

Islam is the religion of society it expects from its followers to develop a society where every individual works towards helping and taking care of each other and where everyone should do good deeds for the sake of Allah Almighty. The bad deeds and good deeds we do when we live will be weighed on the Day of Judgement, and our fate whether to enter Paradise or go through the bad things in Hell. Allah says:

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

“Those who (in charity) spend of their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public, have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:274)

Islam has given the instructions that have the objective that people could change their lives for the better and continue living it in a better  Allah SWT will not command us to do certain things without good rewards. Even for the Salah, we pray every day, Allah SWT rewards us a lot. And the biggest reward we could ever ask for is Jannah. Allah says:

الصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْمُنفِقِينَ وَالْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِالْأَسْحَارِ

” What they spend in the life of this (material) world May be likened to a wind which brings a nipping frost: It strikes and destroys the harvest of men who have wronged their souls: it is not Allah that hath wronged them, but they wrong themselves.” (Surah Al-Imran, 3:17)

In Islam, anyone can give Sadaqah because it is a charity given out as a gesture of generosity, love, compassion, camaraderie. It defines no limit as to how much you are willing to give. Principally, this Islamic act of charity is given largely to the needy, poor, disabled, homeless, deprived, and those who are widowed as well.

Verse’s from the Holy Quran referring to the Believers who do good deeds: 

  • “Whosoever does a good deed, it is for his self…’‘ (Quran 45:15)
  • “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.” (Quran 99:7)
  • “Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Al-Furqan, 25:70)
  • “Twice will they be given their reward, for that they have persevered, that they avert Evil with Good, and that they spend (in charity) out of what We have given them.” (Al-Qasas, 28:54)
  • “If any does good, the reward to him is better than his deed; but if any does evil, the doers of evil are only punished (to the extent) of their deeds.” (Al-Qasas, 28:84)
  • “Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just (balance) between those (extremes).” (Al-Furqan,25:67)
  • “And whatever ye spend in charity or devotion, be sure Allah knows it all. But the wrong-doers have no helpers.” (Al-Baqara, 2::270)
  • “Then, he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy, Will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction.”(Al-Qaria,101:6,7)
  • “Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy,- they will attain salvation.” (Al-Mumenoon, 23:102)
  • “For those who believe and do righteous deeds are Gardens as hospitable homes, for their (good) deeds.(As-Sajda, 32:19)
  • “Such will be the Garden of which ye are made heirs for your (good) deeds (in life).” (Az-Zukhruf, 43:72)
  • “Such shall be Companions of the Gardens, dwelling therein (for aye): a recompense for their (good) deeds.” (Al-Ahqaf, 46:14)

Muslims are bonded together by not only the good deeds of Charity but also the economic stability that flows through society with the distribution of wealth. Hence, Muslims are instructed by Allah to try to give Charity for His sake and spread generosity in society. Therefore, the committing of good deeds stands for a person making his or her life better and it also helps Muslims to become closer to Allah. Allah says:

وَالَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَن يَكُنِ الشَّيْطَانُ لَهُ قَرِينًا فَسَاءَ قَرِينًا

“Not those who spend of their substance, to be seen of men, but have no faith in Allah and the Last Day: If any take the Evil One for their intimate, what a dreadful intimate he is!” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:38)

So, a person who wants to get rewards and blessings from Almighty Allah should perform good deeds with good intentions. Charity is not limited to offering grants to the poor rather it is a continuous process of righteousness that helps one to seek the blessings of Allah. May Allah encourage all Muslims to give as much Sadaqah as humanly possible for the betterment of the Muslim Ummah. May we always be able to please Allah SWT. Amin