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. Having good character and performing good deeds is very important in religion Islam that every Muslim must perform for pleasing Almighty Allah. Doing a deed and doing the deed with good intention are separate things. Allah says in the Holy Quran about righteous deeds: 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)
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 to ensure a good life. 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.
The lines below give such simple life-changing good deeds that a Muslim must do every day to ensure a better and happier life:
- Praying In Mosque: The benefit of going to the mosque to offer prayer in the congregation is clear. Muslims meet in congregation five times a day they are definitely to grow close to each other and make the fabric of society stronger.
- Funeral Prayer: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in one of His hadiths: “Whoever attends a funeral until he offers the (funeral) prayer will have one qiraat (of the reward) and whoever attends until the burial is done will have two qiraats.” It was asked: “What are the two qiraats?” He said: “Like two great mountains.” (Bukhari)
- Holding Ties With Kins: In one of His hadiths, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his lifespan extended, let him uphold his ties of kinship.” (Bukhari)
- Glorifying Allah: In another hadith, Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever says Subhan Allah wa bi Hamdi (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)
- Quran Recitation: “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)
- Visiting Mosque For Knowledge: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in a hadith: “Whoever goes to the mosque not desiring except to learn or teach what is good has the reward of a pilgrim who completed his Hajj.” (Tabarani)
- Istighfaar For Others: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in another of His renowned hadiths: “Whoever seeks forgiveness for believing men and believing women, Allah will write for him a good deed for each believing man and woman.”(Tabarani)
- Helping Others: Islam is a great proponent of people making the lives of each other easier. It commands its followers to work towards making the lives of other people easier. In this regard, you as a Muslim must try to help other Muslims in your daily routine, whether it is carrying the luggage of someone upstairs, or helping an elderly cross the road. All these acts of kindness carry their reward which a Muslim must capitalize upon on a daily basis.
- Ask for Forgiveness Every day: In our daily life routine, we commit sins willingly or unwillingly which leads to Allah’s displeasure at times. At the end of the day, the best practice is to ask for Allah’s forgiveness and to ask for protection from Satan. In the Holy Quran Allah says: “And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (Quran 3:86).
- Quran Recitation: Whoever recites Quran daily will surely earn a great reward from Almighty Allah.
- Be Thankful to Allah: The purpose of human creation is to worship Allah and be thankful to Him for what He has commenced upon us. Thanking Allah is a simple way towards worshipping the Exalted Lord as whatever we are today and we do is because of His favours. In the Holy Quran Allah says:
وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدًى وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ مَّرَدًّا
“And Allah increases those who accept guidance, (in) guidance. And the everlasting good deeds (are) better near your Lord (for) reward and better (for) return.” (Surah Maryam 19:76)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
“O you who believe[d]! Eat from (the) good (of) what We have provided you and be grateful to Allah if you alone worship Him.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:172)
The incorporation of these deeds makes a person a practising Muslim and the development of the habit of these deeds do elevate the spiritual level of a Muslim whilst making the life change for the better. Good deeds that every Muslim can perform in his daily life routine and can earn a great reward. 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)
Try to do urgency in performing good deeds because life is all about spreading happiness, do good, and having good. May Allah Almighty guide us to seek forgiveness and make our heart firm in His (SWT) obedience, Ameen!
