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. Good thoughts don’t make us good Muslims. In Islam, there is no sharp division between secular work and religious work. 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:

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)

The first thing emphasized here is that good deeds have their intrinsic value. Good deeds are important and we should always do good deeds. Of course, this does not mean that all actions are of the same value, or we should not prioritize. But doing good deeds until they form part of our nature is what exactly makes us good Muslims. As for the benefits, it cannot be stressed enough. So doing righteous deeds means earning a lot of rewards. Allah says:

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)

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:

مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ

“Whoever disbelieves, then against him (is) his disbelief. And whoever does righteousness, then for themselves they are preparing.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:44)

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 says:

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

“And those who believed and did righteous deeds, those (are the) companions (of) Paradise; they in it (will) abide forever.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:82)

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:

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. 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)

Righteous actions include all kinds of actions: devotional, moral, social, economic, political, etc. Righteous actions are those that are beneficial, good and useful; and righteous actions are also those that remove harm, evil and injustice. Allah says:

أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

Do you order [the] people [the] righteousness and you forget yourselves, while you [you] recite the Book? Then, will not you use reason?” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:44)

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.

Principles of righteous activism

There are many important Islamic principles regarding actions that our scholars have emphasized. Let me summarize the basic Islamic philosophy of action in the following points:

1. Deeds must be righteous: To know what is righteous, Allah has given us two main sources: the Naql (The revelation: the Qur’an and the Sunnah) and ‘Aql (mind and reason)
2. Avoiding harm has priority over potential benefit
3. A noble character is part and parcel of faith and belief
4. Noble character permeates all acts of worship
5. Sound faith as well as sincere faith
6. Righteous actions include all kinds of actions: devotional, moral, social, economic, political, etc
7. Good character will be the heaviest righteous deed to be placed on a person’s scale of deeds on the Day of Judgement

We should take advantage of all the opportunities we have to do good and valuable things. We should not miss the opportunities. We should understand all situations and whatever chance we have we should do good deeds. One who says prayers, fasts, spends in the cause of God or supports Islam, becomes himself the beneficiary. It is he who needs to do good works; surely he shall have forgiveness and a great reward in return. Allah says:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا

“Indeed, those who believed and did the good deeds, indeed, We will not let go waste (the) reward (of one) who does good deeds.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:30)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) lived and practised Islam in the wisest manner. He always emphasized that which was good, balanced and appropriate. Therefore, while performing a righteous deed, it is of vital importance to keep oneself occupied with the remembrance of God. To this end, a believer should pray to God for the acceptance of his services. Allah says:

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الصَّابِرُونَ

“But said those who were given the knowledge, “Woe to you! (The) reward (of) Allah (is) better for (he) who believes and does righteous (deeds). And not it is granted except (to) the patient ones.” (Surah Al-Qasas 28:80)

Through maintaining good conduct, one becomes one of the beloved servants of God. In brief, what turns an act into a righteous deed is the intention behind it. If the intention is a righteous one, then the deed also becomes righteous, even if the desired result is not attained. Only Allah knows when the end will be. So whatever time we have we should keep doing the right things and good 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)

Islam emphasizes the right beliefs and right actions. Islam is an action-oriented religion. It wants its followers to be active, work hard, and always do right and good deeds.  Whatever we do we must do with the consciousness of Allah and with the conviction that Allah is seeing everything that we do and on the Day of Judgment all our deeds will be presented before Him for His final judgment