Allah Almighty says: {And whatever good you do, Allah is All-Knowing of it.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 215] Allah Almighty also says: {Whatever good you do, Allah is aware of it} [Surat al-Baqarah: 197] Allah Almighty also says: {So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it.} [Surat az-Zalzalah: 7] Allah Almighty also says: {Whoever does righteous deed, it is for his own benefit} [Surat al-Jāthiyah: 15] The verses in this regard are numerous.
1) They urge pursuing all the means to good deeds, each person according to their own abilities. There are three main means to good deeds:
physical, financial, and means that are both physical and financial.
- the Physical manifest in bodily actions, such as prayer, fasting, and Jihad;
- the financial manifest in paying Zakat, charities, and required expenditures;
- the means that are both physical and financial are like Jihad for the sake of Allah since it demands both financial expenditure and offering one’s life.
2) It reflects the wisdom of the Lawgiver in diversifying the means of doing good to increase the rewards and avoid the boredom evoked by the repetition of a particular act of worship. So, it is recommended for the individual to pursue the various means to lawful acts of worship, each to the best of his ability.
As for the relevant Hadīths, they are quite many; so, we list a number of them as follows:
117/1- First: Abu Dharr Jundub ibn Junādah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, which deed is the best?’ He said: ‘Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause.’ I said: ‘Which slave is the best?’ He said: ‘The most precious in the sight of their master and the most expensive.’ I said: ‘If I cannot afford to do that?’ He said: ‘You help a laborer or do good for a person who cannot work for himself.’ I said: ‘If I failed to do some of this?’ He said: ‘Spare people your harm, for this will be charity that you give to yourself.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Another version reads: “You help a weak person” referring to a person who is poor or has many children and the like. --
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1) It reflects the Companions’ keenness to ask about the best of deeds so that they can implement them. This is how righteous people should be! It is obligatory upon the individual to pursue the best deeds likely to draw him closer to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, to earn the most reward.
2) Helping people is one of the most excellence good deeds in the sight of Allah.
3) Abstaining from harming people is a typical character of a [true] Muslim, and everyone must embrace it.
4) The individual should, to the best of his ability, follow a gradual process in observing acts of worship. He should be keen on doing what is most beneficial and avoid laziness, because the most beloved deeds to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, are the ones done constantly even if they are few.
118/2 - Second: Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Every morning, charity is due on every joint in the body of each of you. Every utterance of Allah’s exaltation (saying Subhānallah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of praising Him (saying Al-hamdulillah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of the profession of faith (saying La ilaha illa Allah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of Allah’s glorification (saying Allahu Akbar) is an act of charity; and enjoining good is an act of charity, and forbidding evil is an act of charity; and a two-Rak‘ah prayer which one offers in the forenoon (Duha prayer) suffices for all this.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) The forenoon prayer (Duha) is a recommended daily practice (Sunnah), and it compensates for the charities due on the person’s body.
2) It reflects the great bounty of Allah, Glorified and Exalted, upon His servants as He opened up for them abundant doors to do good.
The prescribed time for the Duha prayer is when the sun reaches the height of one spear or, in other words, a few minutes after the sun disk fully rises. It ends before the sun crosses its zenith, exactly at the middle of the day when the sun centers the sky. Then there is no prayer until the sun declines a few minutes later.
119/3 - Third: He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The deeds of my nation, the good and the bad thereof, were presented to me. I found the removal of harm from the road among their good deeds, and the spittle in a masjid that was not buried among their bad deeds.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) Upon seeing a harmful object in the street, it is recommended for the individual to remove it as this is an aspect of faith.
2) It denounces belittling deeds, however little they may seem, because Allah rewards them greatly.
3) It urges cleaning and attending to the masjids due to the great reward involved.
Removal of the spittle and similar harmful things is done by any means that serve the purpose, such as washing, wiping with tissues, or any other means of cleaning.
120/4- Fourth: He also reported: “Some people said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! The wealthy people have taken all the rewards. They pray as we pray and fast as we fast, but they give charity from their excess wealth.’ He said: ‘Has Allah not given you something to give as charity? Every utterance of ‘glory be to Allah’ is charity; every utterance of ‘Allah is Great’ is charity; every utterance of ‘praise be to Allah’ is charity; every utterance of ‘there is no god but Allah’ is charity; commanding what is right is charity; forbidding what is wrong is charity; and there is charity in the lawful sexual intercourse.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Does one of us satisfy his lust and he is rewarded for that?’ He replied: ‘What do you see if he satisfied it unlawfully, shall he not incur a sin? Likewise, if he satisfies it lawfully, he shall get a reward.’” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) It shows the excellence of the remembrance of Allah Almighty as it is one of the greatest forms of charity.
2) Enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong is a great form of charity, and it is the means to this nation’s glory and goodness; Allah says: {You are the best nation ever raised for mankind: you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong}.
3) The person commanding the right and forbidding the wrong should do so with the intention of reforming people rather than gaining the edge over them.
4) When the individual does what is lawful to avoid the unlawful, he shall be rewarded for it.
5) It reflects the mercy of Allah Almighty as He designated a reward for His believing servants even when they indulge their permissible desires.
121/5- Fifth: He also reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: “Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) Displaying a cheerful face before fellow believers is a form of charity that the person is rewarded for.
2) It urges consistent performance of good deeds even if it is insignificant in the sight of people, for perhaps a few good deeds may yield more honor and reward.
122/6- Sixth: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Charity is due upon every joint in a person’s body each day the sun rises: to judge justly between two people is a charity. To help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it, is a charity. Saying a good word is a charity. Every step that you take towards the prayer is a charity, and removing a harmful object from the road is a charity.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Muslim also narrated it on the authority of ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Every one of the children of Adam has been created with three hundred and sixty joints; so he who glorifies Allah (says Allahu Akbar), praises Allah (says al-hamdulillah), declares oneness of Allah (says La ilāha illa Allah), exalts Allah (says Subhān Allah), seeks forgiveness from Allah, and removes a stone or a thorn or a bone from people’s path, and enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil, to the number of those three hundred and sixty joints, will have saved himself from the Fire by the end of that day.”
1) The believer will be rewarded when he intends to do a good deed and proceeds to it even if it is a single step that he takes towards an act of obedience to Allah.
2) It shows the diversification of good deeds in the life of the believers, which is a manifestation of the mercy of Allah Almighty so that they can gain greater rewards and be motivated to do good.
123/7 - Seventh: He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who goes to the mosque in the morning or in the evening, Allah prepares an honorable abode with good hospitality for him in Paradise every time he goes to the masjid, in the morning or in the evening.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) It shows the excellence of attending prayer in the masjid, and the excellence of frequenting it in the mornings and the evenings.
2) It demonstrates the favor of Allah, Glorified and Exalted, on the servant as He gives him such abundant rewards for such easy deeds.
124/8- Eighth: He also reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “O Muslim women, none of you should consider insignificant (a gift) to give to her neighbor, even if it is the trotter of a sheep.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) It urges Muslims to exchange gifts.
2) One should pay due care to his neighbors and treat them kindly because it is a means to good deeds.
3) This instruction addresses women in particular, encouraging them to do good, which reflects the care the Sharia gave to the rulings pertaining to women.
125/9- Ninth: He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the statement: La ilāha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah), and the lowest of which is the removal of what is harmful from the road; and modesty is a branch of faith.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
"Over" means a number between three and nine; i.e, the branches of faith are between seventy three and seventy nine, or between sixty three and sixty nine. --
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Modesty is a moral trait that prompts a person to do what is commendable and shun what is reprehensible.
1) The merit of the Word of Tawhīd: La ilāha illa Allah, as it occupies the most superior branch of faith. So, one should strive to implement what it entails.
2) A commendable trait is adhering to modesty and shyness, except in matters of truth wherein he must not shy away from announcing it.
126/10 - Tenth: He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A man was walking on his way when he became extremely thirsty. He came upon a well so he went down into it and drank from its water. Upon coming out, he saw a panting dog eating the dirt (searching for water). The man thought to himself: ‘This dog is as thirsty as I was,’ so he again went down into the well, filled up his leather sock with water, and holding it in his mouth, climbed back up and quenched the thirst of the dog. Allah held his act in high esteem and so He forgave his sins.” The Companions asked: “O Messenger of Allah, shall we be rewarded for showing kindness to the animals?” He said: “A reward is given for (kindness to) every living creature.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
The wording of another narration of Al-Bukhāri reads: “Allah was thankful to him so He granted him forgiveness and admitted him to Paradise.”
In another narration by both Al-Bukhāri and Muslim: “While a dog was going round a well, almost dying of thirst, a prostitute from the Israelites saw it, so she took off her leather sock, filled it with water, and gave it to the dog to drink. Her sins were forgiven because of that.”
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1) A minor good deed, if accepted by Allah, Glorified and Exalted, is a means to entering Paradise.
2) Minor deeds accompanied by a good intention become major, whereas major deeds accompanied by heedlessness become minor. In short, the intention in the heart is the criterion for judging any deed.
3) The purpose of Prophetic stories is to take admonition and lessons therefrom.
Some of the Tābi‘is (the generation that received their teachings from the Companions) said: “A person with excessive sins should offer drinking water. If Allah forgave the sins of those who quenched the thirst of a dog, how about [the reward] of the one who quenches the thirst of a believer and gave him life because of it?”
127/11 - Eleventh: He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I saw a man enjoying the pleasures of Paradise because he cut a tree from the road that was a source of inconvenience and harm to the Muslims.” [Narrated by Muslim]
In another version of the Hadīth, he said: “A man passed by a branch of a tree on a road, so he said: ‘By Allah, I will remove this away from (the path of) Muslims so that it would not harm them.’ So he was admitted to Paradise (on account of that).”
In another version narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim: “While a man was walking on a road, he found a thorny branch of a tree lying there on the way so he pushed it aside. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him.”
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1) The excellence of removing harm from the road as it is a means to entering Paradise.
2) Whoever removes physical harm that may cause physical harm to Muslims will be rewarded in abundance. So, how about the one who removes the intangible harm that tarnish their religion such as bad morals, ill thoughts, corrupt creeds, and religious innovations that lead astray?!
128/12- Twelfth: He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who performs ablution properly and then comes to the Friday prayer and listens attentively and keeps silent, his sins between that Friday and the following Friday will be forgiven, with the addition of three more days; but he who touches the pebbles has engaged in idle activity.” [Narrated by Muslim]
"engaged in idle activity" means that the Friday prayer is now counted as Dhuhr prayer, as explained in the narrations of Abu Dāwūd and others.
1) Attending the Friday prayer, along with proper ablution and listening to the sermon attentively, are an expiation of sins committed between the Friday prayer and the following Friday prayer, with an additional three days forgiven.
2) It shows the excellence of attentive listening to the sermon to secure the full reward.
Touching the pebbles and playing with them during the sermon resembles using the mobile phone or the watch today. So, one should beware of playing with anything during the sermon. Doing so will count his attendance and sitting as a form of worship until he concludes the prayer.
129/13- Thirteenth: He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If a Muslim, or a believer, performs ablution, when he washes his face, every sin he has committed with his eyes is washed away with water or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin he has committed with his hands is washed away with water or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin that his feet walked towards is washed away with water or with the last drop of water, until he comes out cleansed of all sins.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) Ablution is a means for the expiation of sins.
2) Cleansing during ablution is both tangible, when those parts of the body are cleaned, and intangible, when they are cleansed from the sins they committed.
3) It expresses the mercy of Allah Almighty conferred upon this nation as He legislated for it means that expiate sins and entail mercy.
130/14- Fourteenth: He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The five (daily) prayers, Friday prayer to the next Friday prayer, and Ramadan to the next Ramadan, are expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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Major sins: refer to every sin whose designation in the Sharia results in negation of faith, or its doer is cursed, or it mandates corporal punishment in the worldly life or the threat of punishment in the Hereafter.
1) The greatest means for the expiation of sins are: the five daily prayers, attendance of Friday prayers, and fasting Ramadan.
2) Major sins require special repentance due to their immense danger on one’s faith.
131/15 - Fifteenth: He also reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Shall I inform you of that by which Allah erases sins and raises ranks?” They said: “Yes, please do, O Messenger of Allah!” He said: “Performing ablution perfectly despite difficulties, taking many steps to masjids, and waiting for the next prayer after the last prayer; that is indeed the Ribāt.” [Narrated by Muslim]
“Performing ablution perfectly despite difficulties”: means to complete the ablution and give each body part its due right despite the unintentional difficulty one may encounter.
"Ribāt": means stationing for Jihad for the sake of Allah.
1) One of the means for the expiation of sins and elevation of one’s ranks is performing ablution, taking many trips to the masjid, and attending the congregational prayers therein.
2) Consistent observance of good deeds is a form of Jihad for the sake of Allah, Glorified and Exalted. Even more, they serve as a preamble to the armed Jihad against the enemies of Allah Almighty. If one failed to strive against himself and discipline it for the sake of Allah, he cannot engage in Jihad against the enemies of Allah.
132/16- Sixteenth: Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever prays the Bardayn (Fajr and ‘Asr prayers) will enter Paradise.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) It shows the excellence of the two prayers: Fajr and ‘Asr.
2) Consistent observance of these two prayers is a means to entering Paradise.
133/17- Seventeenth: He also reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If a person falls ill or travels, he shall be credited with whatever good deeds he used to perform while at home and in good health.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1) The believer should seize his times of health and leisure to do good deeds.
2) Doing good deeds at times of health and leisure compensates for any shortcomings at times of preoccupation. Therefore, the believer should increase his record of the lasting good deeds whenever he experiences unexpected blessings.
134/18- Eighteenth: Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Every act of goodness is charity.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri, while Muslim narrated it on the authority of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him)]
Goodness: what is commonly regarded as good in Sharia and among people.
1) It urges keenness on doing good deeds, as this draws one closer to Allah Almighty and is a means to the expiation of sins.
2) The encouraged goodness is diverse and abundant, done by words or deeds, or even by good morals. So, where are the silent preachers; those who invite people to Paradise by their conduct and good morals?!
135/19 - Nineteenth: He also reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No Muslim plants a plant except that whatever is eaten from it will be counted for him as charity, and whatever is stolen from it will be counted for him as charity, and whatever is decreased from it will be counted for him as charity.” [Narrated by Muslim] In another version also narrated by him: “No Muslim plants a tree, then a man, a beast, or a bird eats from it, but it will be counted as charity for him until the Day of Judgment.”
In a third version narrated by him: “No Muslim plants a tree or sows a field, then a man, a beast, or anything else eats from it, but it will be counted as charity for him.” All the versions were narrated on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him).
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1) It urges planting trees and plants due to the religious and worldly benefits this involves.
2) It shows the abundant and diverse means of good deeds.
3) Establishing public services benefits its founder when people make use of it, even if the founder had not intended so. If he intended to benefit people thereby, his reward will be multiplied; {Anyone who does that, seeking Allah’s pleasure, We will give him a great reward.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 114]
136/ 20- Twentieth: He also reported: “The tribe of Banu Salimah wanted to move closer to the masjid. On learning this, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: ‘I was told that you intend to move closer to the masjid.’ They said: ‘That is true, O Messenger of Allah, we want to.’ He said: ‘O Banu Salimah, stay in your neighborhood, your footsteps are recorded for you; stay in your neighborhood, your footsteps are recorded for you.’” [Narrated by Muslim] In another version of the Hadīth, he said: “Every footstep merits one higher rank.” [Narrated by Muslim] Al-Bukhāri narrated a Hadīth with the same meaning on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him).
Banu Salimah: a well-known tribe from the Ansār (may Allah be pleased with them). --
Stay in your neighborhood, your footsteps are recorded for you: do not move from your houses even if they were distant from the masjid, as your footsteps are recorded as good deeds; each step counts as a good deed or a higher rank.
1) Taking many steps to the masjid is among the means to the expiation of sins and elevation of ranks.
2) It instructs verifying any piece of news before making a judgment, as reflected in the Prophet’s question to them before he passed his judgment.
137/21- Twenty-first: Abu al-Mundhir Ubay ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “There was a man who, as far as I know, lived farther from the masjid than anyone else, and he never missed a prayer. It was said to him or I said to him: ‘If only you would buy a donkey so that you may ride it in the darkness and the scorching heat.’ He said: ‘I do not like that my house be near the masjid, for I want the steps I take to the masjid and back from it to my family to be recorded for me.’ Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Verily, Allah has gathered all of that for you.’” [Narrated by Muslim] In another version: “You shall have the reward you expected.”
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1) Intention has a great effect on the validity of deeds and their reward. The more sincere a person is to Allah and the stronger his compliance is with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), the greater his reward.
2) Anyone who does good deeds, even as little as a step towards the masjid, will have all of his reward gathered for him by Allah without missing a single portion thereof.
138/22 - Twenty-second: Abu Muhammad ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There are forty kinds of good deeds, the best of which is the Manīhah (lending) of a milch goat. Anyone who carries out any of these deeds seeking its reward with firm confidence that he will receive it, Allah will admit him to Paradise by virtue of it.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
Lending here means to give the goat to someone to milk it and drink its milk then return it.
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1) It shows the diversity and abundance of the means to good deeds. A fortunate one is indeed guided by Allah while the unfortunate is deprived of this guidance.
2) Sincerity and honesty are the criteria for deeds that, once fulfilled, the doer will obtain the designated reward.
3) Good deeds serve as a means to entering Paradise, second in rank to the mercy of Allah Almighty.
139/23 - Twenty-third: ‘Adi ibn Hātim (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Avoid Hellfire even by half a date.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
In another version, Al-Bukhāri and Muslim narrated on the authority of ‘Adi: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There is no one among you except that His Lord will speak to him, with no interpreter between them. He will look to his right and will see nothing except what he has put forth (of deeds) and he will look to his left and will see nothing except what he has put forth. He will look in front of him and see nothing except the Fire in front of his face. So avoid the Fire even with half a date (in charity). Whoever does not even find that, then with a kind word.”
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1) Everyone will stand before Allah Almighty, surrounded by his deeds, and the hellfire within his sight; so, what did he put forth?
2) It affirms the attribute of Speech to Allah, Glorified and Exalted. He, Glorified and Exalted, will speak on the Day of Judgment in understandable audible words needless of an interpreter. This is what is told by the truthful trusted Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
3) Charity, even if it is little, saves from hellfire.
4) Recitation of the Qur’an and Dhikr, and learning and teaching religious knowledge are all forms of good speech.
140/24 - Twenty-fourth: Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah is pleased with one who eats a meal and praises Him for it, or who drinks some drink and praises Him for it.” [Narrated by Muslim]
A meal: refers to lunch or dinner.
1) The pleasure of Allah Almighty could be obtained by the simplest of means.
2) Eating and drinking require some physical manners, such as eating with the right hand, and verbal manners, such as saying Bismillah (in the name of Allah) at the beginning and saying Al-hamdulillah (praise be to Allah) at the end.
The phrase "eats a meal" does not mean saying al-hamduillah after every bite of food. Rather, it means when you finish eating altogether, you praise Allah, Glorified and Exalted; as this is the guidance and manners of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
141/25 - Twenty-fifth: Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A charity is due upon every Muslim.” It was said: “What if he finds nothing (to give in charity)?” He said: “He should work with his hands to benefit himself and give charity (from his earnings).” It was said: “What if he is not able to do so?” He said: “He should help one who is in desperate need.” It was said: “What if he is not able to do so?” He said: “He should enjoin what is good.” It was said: “What if he does not do that?” He said: “He should refrain from doing evil, for that is an act of charity.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) Every deed that benefits oneself or others is an encouraged act of goodness.
2) Refraining from doing evil is a form of charity, which reflects the diversity of good deeds.
3) The greater the benefit extending beyond limited individuals, the greater the reward and the effect.