Allah Almighty says: {Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness} [Surat al-Mā’idah: 2] Allah Almighty also says: {By the time, man is in utter loss. Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and exhort one another to the truth and exhort one another to patience.} [Surat al-‘Asr: 1-3]
Imam Al-Shāfi‘i (may Allah have mercy upon him) said that people, or most of them, are heedless of pondering on the meaning of this Surah.
1) Cooperation in goodness and righteousness is the best act done by the believers and the best one they enjoin one another to do.
2) All people are losers except one who has the following four characteristics: 1- He believes in what it is obligatory to believe in. 2-He does righteous deeds as entailed by his belief. 3- He calls others to the truth. 4- He is patient with the harm he receives in this mission.
177/1- Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmān, Zayd ibn Khālid Al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever equips a fighter in the cause of Allah has indeed taken part in the fight himself; and whoever looks after the dependents of a fighter in his absence properly has indeed taken part in the fight himself.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
178/2- Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) sent a detachment to Banu Lihyān tribe and said: “Let one of every two men go forth, and both will share the reward.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) Whoever aids someone in obeying Allah Almighty will have the same reward as his, without having this reward diminished in the least.
2) Participating in doing good deeds ensures the reward for all.
3) People are encouraged to do good deeds.
Aiding a fighter may take two forms:
1- To provide him with a riding mount, provision, weapons and all that is needed for fight.
2- To be a good successor for him in looking after his family.
179/3- Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came across a caravan at Al-Rawhā’ and asked who the people in the caravan were. They replied that they were Muslims. They asked: “Who are you?” He said: “The Messenger of Allah.” So a woman lifted up a boy to him and asked: “Is there Hajj for this one?” He said: “Yes, and you will have a reward.” [Narrated by Muslim]
Al-Rawhā’: a place between Makkah and Madinah.
1) A believer who is keen on learning about his religion must take advantage of the presence of a scholar or a knowledgeable man and ask him about the matters that are confusing to him, and those that are beneficial in terms of his religiosity.
2) Hajj of a child is valid, even one who is not discerning. If he performs Hajj with his guardian, they both earn the reward.
180/4- 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: “The honest Muslim trustee who carries out what he is ordered to do and gives out in full and wholeheartedly what he is assigned to give out, to those whom he is ordered to give to, he is one of the givers of charity.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
According to another version: “who gives what he is ordered to give... he is one of the two givers of charity.” Both versions are correct.
1) A Muslim is encouraged to keep the trusts, and give what he is in charge of giving.
2) Cooperation in goodness and righteousness; for both the doer and the one who aids him shall get the same reward.