Allah Almighty says: {so compete with one another in good deeds} [Al-Baqarah: 148] Allah Almighty also says: {And hasten towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous} [Āl ‘Imrān: 133]
1) They urge racing to do good deeds without delaying them because they could be missed.
2) One of the traits of pious people is their eagerness towards the Hereafter and hastening to gain the pleasure of Allah, Glorified and Exalted, by asking for His forgiveness and commitment to acts of obedience.
87/1 - First: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Hasten to do good deeds before being overtaken by tribulations that are like parts of the dark night. A man would be a believer in the morning and turn to a disbeliever in the evening, or he would be a believer in the evening and turn to a disbeliever in the morning. He sells his religion for a worldly gain.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) It shows the obligation of holding firm onto religion and hastening to do good deeds before any hindrances or obstacles stand in the way of doing them unexpectedly.
2) It warns against falling into tribulations, because they plant doubt in one’s religion and weakness in faith.
3) It urges adherence to knowledge and to action based on that knowledge, because they protect the individual at the time of tribulations.
88/2- Second: Abu Sirwa‘ah ‘Uqbah ibn al-Hārith (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I offered the ‘Asr prayer behind the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) at Madīnah. When he finished the prayer with Taslīm, he got up hurriedly and went out crossing the rows of the people to one of the dwellings of his wives. The people were startled at his speed. He later came out and, finding them surprised at his haste, he said to them: “I recalled that there was some gold (meant for charity) left with us; I did not like to keep it any longer, so I gave orders that it should be distributed.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
In another version also narrated by Al-Bukhāri: “I have left pieces of gold belonging to charity in my house, and I disliked keeping them overnight.”
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1) It urges hastening to do good deeds, deliver people’s rights, and avoid negligence in this regard.
2) It shows the care of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to do good deeds and his hastening to deliver trusts to their rightful owners. So, adhere to the guidance of your Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and hold on to his Sunnah because all forms of good lie in his guidance whereas all forms of evil lie in following [ill] personal desires.
3) It shows the attentiveness of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to follow the sayings and actions of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), which is among their merits.
89/3- Third: Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “A man asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) during the Battle of Uhud: ‘If I am killed, where do you think I would be?’ He (the Prophet) replied: ‘In Paradise.’ So the man threw some dates that were in his hand and fought until he was killed.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) It manifests the Companions keenness and hastening to do good deeds, and their commitment to the affairs of their religion and their afterlife.
2) It promises Paradise for the one who is killed for the sake of Allah.
3) Nothing should fully concern the Muslim more than his final destination on the Day of Judgment, either to Paradise or to Hellfire. So, be keen on doing what draws you closer to Paradise while distancing you from Hellfire.
90/4- Fourth: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “A man came to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Which charity earns the greatest reward?’ He answered: ‘That you give charity when you are healthy and miserly, fearing poverty and hoping to become rich. Do not delay charity until your soul reaches up to the throat, and then you say: This is for so-and-so and this is for so-and-so. Lo, it has already come into the possession of so-and-so.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) The individual must hasten to do good deeds before death surprises him.
2) Giving out charity during healthiness is superior to giving it out during sickness.
91/5- Fifth: Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) took hold of a sword on the Day of Uhud and said: “Who would take this from me?” All of them stretched their hands, each saying: “Me, me.” He (Allah’s Messenger) said: “Who would take it in order to fulfill its rights?” Thereupon, the people withdrew their hands. Abu Dujānah, however, said: “I take it to fulfill its rights.” So he took it and struck the heads of the polytheists with it. [Narrated by Muslim]
Abu Dujānah’s full name is: Simāk ibn Kharshah. -- -- --
1) It shows the good care the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) gave to his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), as he did not favor one of them with the sword but rather made it a matter of competition among them all in general, in order to find the best man for the task at hand.
2) It reflects the bravery of Abu Dujānah (may Allah be pleased with him) and his sacrifice and sincerity in Jihad.
3) The individual should not approach an act of worship with laziness or consider its performance beyond his capability. Instead, he must seek the help of Allah, rely on Him, and hasten to do good deeds without hesitation or doubt.
The reaction of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with him) should not be misconstrued as cowardliness or fear, because they were reluctant to take the sword out of fearing failure to fulfill their promise to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). This implies their utmost piety and respect of promises and the rights of their Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
92/6- Sixth: Al-Zubayr ibn ‘Ady reported: We went to Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) and complained to him about the suffering we were experiencing at the hands of al-Hajjāj. So he said: “Be patient, for no time will come upon you but the one that follows it will be worse than it until you meet your Lord. I heard it from your Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1) It shows the obligation of patience in the face of the rulers even if they were oppressors and tyrants.
2) It prescribes adherence to acts of obedience to Allah during times of tribulations because they are the protectors against the tribulations.
Guidance of people during times of tribulation is the task of godly and committed scholars. People must listen to what scholars instruct during times of tribulation and adversity because they are the most knowledgeable of Sharia, the status quo, and the conditions of the people. Allah Almighty says: {If they referred it to the Messenger or to those in authority among them, those with sound judgment among them could know it.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 83]
93/7- Seventh: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Hasten to good deeds before seven [afflictions]! Are you waiting for poverty to make you oblivious? Or wealth to turn you into an oppressor? Or debilitating illness? Or hoary senility? Or sudden death? Or the Antichrist – what a loathsome wait! Or the Hour [of Resurrection]? Indeed, the Hour is hardest to bear and most bitter!” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as Hasan (sound)] [5]
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1) The Hadīth provides the most telling of examples about significant distractions keeping the individual away from doing good so that he can steer away from them and do what benefits him.
2) It urges taking advantage of the times of having good health and leisure time and not many temptations and distractions to do more of the good deeds.
3) The Antichrist is the most serious trial and temptation that all the Prophets (peace be upon them) warned against.
94/8 - Eighth: He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said during the Battle of Khaybar: “I shall give this banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah will grant victory at his hands.” ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Never did I wish for leadership but on that day. I came before him with the hope that I might be called for this,” but the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) called ‘Ali ibn abi Tālib and he handed over the banner to him, saying: “Proceed and do not turn around until Allah grants you victory.” ‘Ali proceeded for a short distance then halted and, without turning around, shouted saying: “O Messenger of Allah, on what issue should I fight with the people?” Thereupon, he (the Prophet) said: “Fight them until they bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they do that then their blood and their riches are inviolable from your hands except for what is justified by law, and their reckoning is with Allah.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) disliked rulership due to the accountability it involves.
2) It shows how they rushed to obey the command of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), which is an aspect of hastening to do good deeds.
3) It reflects the Companions’ compliance and hastening to apply the recommendations of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) without much questioning. We must follow the Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in submission to Allah, Glorified and Exalted. We should also read the biographies of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and follow their example and behavior [towards the commands of] the Book and Sunnah, because it is the sign of success for this nation. Indeed, nothing would reform the later generations of this nation except what reformed its earlier generations.