Make intention clear before the deed

Good Deeds in Islam

Doing good deeds in a group can increase our collective consciousness. Good company will help us on the spiritual path. A person might make a show of deprecating himself, stating all the time how deficient he is. He says how he does no good works and how his deeds are not enough. What he means by all this is to make a display of his humility. It makes it easier to do good because we can help each other and be more effective in our actions. Allah says:

مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْهَا وَهُمْ مِنْ فَزَعٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ آمِنُونَ وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَكُبَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ.

”Whoever brings good, he shall have better than it; and they shall be secure from terror on the day. And whoever brings evil, these shall be thrown down on their faces into the fire; shall you be rewarded (for) aught except what you did?” (Surah Naml:89-90)

Be grateful to God for the opportunity and ability to do good. In all our deeds we must confirm within ourselves the intention of seeking the pleasure of God. Good deeds will bear fruit if there is sincerity attached to their intentions. A person begins doing something for the sake of Allah alone, like offering prayer, spending in charity, or glorifying Allah in an audible voice. Then he realizes that people can see him. Allah says:

مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْهَا وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَى الَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ.

”Whoever brings good, he shall have better than it, and whoever brings evil, those who do evil shall not be rewarded (for) aught except what they did.” (Surah Qasas 27:84)

A human being, especially Muslims was created in the world under a certain mission: to worship Allah SWT. He has the rules of living and later we must take responsibility for all the things we have done in the world on the Day of Judgement. The final destination for every Muslim is Jannah, and the only way to get there is by doing good deeds. All the deeds later will be able to help us.

Here are the ways to get good deeds in Islam:

  1. A good deed is always thanking Allah for everything
  2. A good deed is attending lectures in the Masjid
  3. A good deed is asked for Allah’s forgiveness
  4. A good deed is thought of as something well
  5. A good deed is to teach an elderly person
  6. A good deed is to define your success
  7. A good deed is a remembrance of Allah
  8. A good deed is breaking of the fast
  9. A good deed is Istighfar to yourself
  10. A good deed is to show the effort
  11. A good deed is Visiting the Sick
  12. A good deed is providing food
  13. A good deed is to set goals 
  14. A good deed is Pray  regular
  15. A good deed is reciting tasbeeh
  16. A good deed is to find inspiration
  17. A good deed is to find motivation
  18. A good deed is done the homeless
  19. A good deed is don’t procrastinate
  20. A good deed is given thanks to Allah
  21. A good deed is asking Allah to forgive 
  22. A good deed is to help a friend in need
  23. A good deed is to create habits of goals
  24. A good deed does not take the task lightly
  25. A good deed is glorifying and Praising Allah

Although the general guidelines of Islam are such which are sufficient for a person to follow for making life good, however, there are some simple things that a person can change in order to ensure a good life.

Good Deeds to be Done Every day

Allah SWT never makes it difficult for every Muslim who wished to do good deeds every day. So that by doing small good deeds, a big reward comes along. Here is the list of good deeds we should do every day:

  1. Pray in the Mosque: “Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning and evening, Allah will prepare for him an honourable place in Paradise every time he goes and comes.” – Bukhari
  2. Dhikr to Allah SWT: “Whoever says Subhan Allah wa bi Hamdih (Praise and Glory be to Allah) one hundred times, morning and evening, his sins will be erased even if they are like the foam of the sea.” – Bukhari
  3. Recite the Quran Daily: “Whoever reads a letter of the Book of Allah will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets tenfold reward. I do not say that Alif-laam-meem is a letter, rather Alif is a letter, laam is a letter and meem is a letter.” – Tirmidhi
  4. Pray in Congregation: “Prayer in congregation is superior to praying individually twenty-seven times.” – Bukhari
  5. Do the Isya and Fajr Prayer: “He who prays Isha in Jamah (congregation) is as if he has prayed for half the night. As to him who (also) prays Fajr in the congregation, it is as if he prayed all night.” – Muslim
  6. Do the Sunnah Prayer: “The most superior prayer of a person is in his home, except the obligatory prayers.” – Bukhari
  7. Replying to Adhaan: “The most superior prayer of a person is in his home, except the obligatory prayers.” – Bukhari

Islam does not encourage asceticism. 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 life for the better and continue living them in a better manner. Allah says:

قُلْ لَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى.

Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives… (Surah Shuraa 42:23)

Between doing good deeds, you may feel that everything is hard and want to give up instead. Remember that doing good deeds is even a learning process. No matter how hard it could be, the most important thing is not to give up. Learn a single thing at a time and that is how you can get better. Don’t forget to say Alhamdulillah every time a good deed has been done.

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

  • “..If you are thankful, I will give you more ..” (Quran 14:7)
  • “And Allah does not guide the wrongdoers.” (Surah Ali Imran verse 86)
  • “Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them, Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran 25:70)
  • “Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated. “ (Quran 25:69)
  • ” 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.” (Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 172)
  • “Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous.” (Qur’an 3:133)
  • ‘‘Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good…’’ (Qur’an, 3:134)
  • “Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.”  (Quran 25:74)
  • “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous.” (Quran 3:133)

Istighfar has many benefits behind it, especially when you’re about doing good deeds. The defining factor of whether your good deeds are accepted or not is the intention. If the initial intention to do good deeds is to please Allah SWT and seek refuge from Shaytaan, then we have started off right. Allah says:

وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تُجْزَى.

”And no one has with him any boon for which he should be rewarded…” (Surah Layl 92:19)

The aforementioned are some good deeds that a Muslim can incorporate into his or her daily routine. Work harder to do good deeds under the good intention and make it into action. Whenever you are going to the mosque, bring along the charity money in your pocket. Allah says:

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى. وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى. فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى.

”Then as for him who gives away and guards (against evil), and accepts the best. We will facilitate for him the east end.” (Surah Layl 92:5-7)

Making dua to your own self is important so that Allah would bless every one of the good deeds you do and make you persistent in doing it. So before we do any good deeds, it’s important to seek Allah’s forgiveness. Surely Allah has never slept and He knows all things that you do. May Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) guide us to see our mistakes and seek forgiveness for them, and may He make our hearts firm in His obedience, Aameen!