Allah Ta’ala prepared a permanent abode for every person being in the Hereafter. He has allowed them to stay in the world for a specific time so that everyone could know and witness their good and evil works in this world. He ordained Paradise permanently for those who die while they are believers, and He prepared Hell for those who die while they are disbelievers. Allah Ta’ala has strongly urged His servants to do two things. 1. to believe, 2. to do good works. Good deeds are the essential thing after Iman in Islam. But most people are oblivious to good deeds.
So I will present to you some vital information about good deeds. And I will mention the results of good works and some good deeds. At the same time, I will try to describe some words of Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) about them. So let’s not know their identity first.
Good works and their identity
Good works are words or deeds that please Allah Ta’ala, or Good deeds are words or deeds that doers do according to the law of Allah.
Therefore, if a person does something by which Allah Ta’ala is not satisfied or a deed that is not according to Allah’s law, that deed will not be considered a good deed. Good deeds are a broad term that encompasses the words of the mouth, the actions of the heart, and the work of the limbs.
Good works and their importance
Whomsoever Allah loves, He is successful in this world and the Hereafter. He became everyone’s favorite person. And indeed, everyone can gain the love of Allah quickly through good deeds. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said:
“Indeed, those who have believed and done good deeds – the Most Merciful will create for them the love.” [Surah Maryam, verse 96]
Good deeds enhance people’s dignity in this world and the Hereafter. Every person may have committed many sins in their life. But Allah Ta’ala removes his sins for his Good works. Allah Ta’ala also said: “And those who believe and do righteous deeds – I will surely remove from them their misdeeds and will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do.” [Surah Al-‘Ankabut, verse 7]
Allah Ta’ala will give the good-doer believers the best reward. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said: “Indeed, those who have believed and done good works – will have the Gardens of Paradise (the highest place in Paradise) as an accommodation.” [Surah Al-Kahf, verse 107]
Condition for accepting good deeds
There are three main conditions for Good works to be acceptable to Allah and rewarded in this world and the Hereafter. Those are:
1. Believing in Allah. Therefore, if a person does not believe in Allah but does many good deeds in this world, then Allah Ta’ala will reward him for his good deeds in this world. But He will not give him any reward in the Hereafter. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said: “Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments – I fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they therein will not be deprived. Those are the ones for whom there is not in the Hereafter but the Fire. And lost is what they did therein, and worthless is what they used to do.” [Surah Hud, 15 – 16]
Even if one dies as a disbeliever, his good works in the Hereafter will not help him. In this regard, A’isha (R) reported I said: O Messenger of Allah, the son of Jud’an established ties of the excellent relationship with relatives, fed the poor. Would that be of any avail to him? He (peace be upon him) said: “It would be of no avail to him as he did not ever say: O my Lord, pardon my sins on the Day of Resurrection (i.e., he dies as a disbeliever).” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 214]
2. Doing good deeds only for Allah, not associating anyone with Allah in good deeds. Therefore, if a person does good deeds, not for the sake of Allah, but for worldly interests, Or if someone does good works for the sake of Allah and the sake of earthly interests, then that deed also will not be acceptable to Allah. In this regard,
Allah Ta’ala said:
“So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord – let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.” [Surah Al-Kahf, verse 110]
Abu Huraira (R) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) as stating that Allah the Highest and Exalted said: “I do not need the associating of the partners. If anyone does anything in which he associates anyone else with Me, I forsake it and his Shirk.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2985]
3. The good deed should be according to the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) and his direction. Indeed His Sunnah and direction are a part of Allah’s law. Therefore, any deed contrary to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), no matter how beautiful it may be, no matter how good it may be, is not acceptable to Allah. You maybe know that Allah Ta’ala said:
“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and (who) remembers Allah often.” [Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 21]
And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “He who did any act for which there is no direction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 4385]
Types of good deeds
There are usually two types of good deeds. 1. Obligatory deeds, 2. Nafl (optional) deeds. Besides, there are innumerable good deeds in the world. The description of which will not end if you start. So I am mentioning some of the deeds which bring pleasing to Allah.
Performing obligatory prayers on time
Allah Ta’ala said: “And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or (lying) on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish (regular) prayer. Indeed, performing prayers is a duty on the believers at the appointed times.” [Surah An-Nisa, verse 103]
Narrated Ibn Mas’ud: A man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “What deeds are the best?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 1. To perform the (daily obligatory) prayers at their appointed times, 2. to be good and dutiful to one’s parents, 3. and to do Jihad in Allah’s way.” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 7534]
To Obey and Follow the Quran and Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger
Allah Ta’ala said: “And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy.” [Surah Ali ‘Imran, verse 132]
Allah Ta’ala also said: “He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah, but those who turn away – I have not sent you over them as a guardian.” [Surah An-Nisa, verse 80]
And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “I have left two matters among you. As long as you hold to them, you will not go the wrong way. They are the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet.” [Muwatta Malik, Hadith No. 1628]
Not to harm anyone
Abu Dharr (R) reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, which of the deeds is the best? He (peace be upon him) replied: Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause. I again asked: Who is the slave whose emancipation is the best? He (peace be upon him) replied: One who is valuable for his master and whose price is high. I said: If I can’t afford to do it? He (peace be upon him) replied: Help an artisan or make anything for the unskilled (laborer). I (Abu Dharr) said: Messenger of Allah, What is your opinion if I am weak in doing some of these deeds? He (peace be upon him) replied: “Protect the people from your harm. That is the charity from you on you.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 151]
Creating a good character in yourself
Abu Hurairah (R) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was asked about that for which people are admitted into Paradise the most? so He (peace be upon him) said: “Taqwa of Allah and good character.” And he was asked about that for which people are admitted into the Fire the most? He (peace be upon him) said: ” (misusing) the mouth and the private parts.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2004]
Abu Wahb narrated that: ‘Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak (Rh) explained good character, and then he said: “It is a smiling face, doing one’s best in good, and refraining from harm.”
Doing good deeds regularly, if these deeds are small
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Do good deeds proportion to your ability, for Allah does not get tired (of giving reward) until you get tired. And the most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are continuous, even if they are few.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 762]
The results of good deeds
- Obtaining a good life
- Good reward and to be the expiation for evil deeds
- Obtaining the love of Allah Almighty and gaining Allah’s satisfaction
- Gaining the kindness and love in the hearts of the creation
- Getting good news before death
- Safety from the torment of the grave
- Success in this world and the Hereafter
Signs of acceptance of the good deeds
There are many signs of good deeds being accepted. Some of them are:
- Not turning back to sin
- To remain steadfast in good works, and obtain a pure heart from evil deeds
- To remember the Hereafter, again and again,
- Too many excitations to do good deeds and the increase of the number of good deeds in oneself
- To do work sincerely for the sake of Allah,
- To be ready for the meeting with the Lord. Etc.
May Allah Ta’ala forgive us all our sins, accept all our good deeds, and give us the Tawfiq to obey and follow his Messenger. Ameen.
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