Class 8 – Simple Deeds in Society with Great Rewards

Class 8

Simple Deeds in Society with Great Rewards

SOCIETY

Islam is not a religion of individualism, or restricted to the private sphere of the home; rather, Islam is meant to be practiced at a societal level. Zakah, which is an obligation upon all Muslims who are eligible to pay it, is an example of Islam’s focus on society. The Qur’an commands us to “enjoin the good and forbid the evil,” which extends to the public sphere in particular; it is an ordinant which is meant to purify society at large. Numerous other actions that we have been recommended to perform, such as giving sadaqah, taking care of orphans and widows, and feeding the poor are all things which are intended to ensure social welfare of society. Not only do these deeds help others, but they are a source of great reward in the Hereafter.

DEEDS DONE IN SOCIETY WITH GREAT REWARDS

BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOUR

Having a strong Islamic society starts from being dutiful to your family and then your neighbours. There are many ahadeeth emphasising the rights of the neighbours and warning against harming them.

The Prophet ﷺ said,

  • “Jibreel continued to advise me to treat neighbors well until I thought he would make them my heirs.”  (Bukhari & Muslim)
  • “He will not enter Paradise from whose harm his neighbour is not safe.” (Sahih Muslim)

Be the best

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The best of companions with Allâh is the one who is best to his companion, and the best of neighbours with Him is the one who is best to his neighbour.”

LOVING FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH

Love for the sake of Allah is one of the strongest bonds of faith, and is one of the most important foundations on which Muslim society is based. It is the basis by means of which ties of friendship and harmony among people are attained, so that they love one another, visit one another, are sincere towards one another, intermarry, enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, thus attaining true Islamic brotherhood. Through it people find the sweetness of faith in their interactions, companionship and friendship.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed the strongest bond of faith is to love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Allah.” (Ahmed, classed as Hasan)

BENEFITS/VIRTUES OF LOVING FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH

It is one of the greatest acts of Worship

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “ To go about with a brother of mine, trying to help him, is dearer to me than spending a month in seclusion (i‘tikaaf) in this mosque of mine. The one who goes about with his Muslim brother, trying to help him, until he meets his needs, Allah will make his feet steadfast on the Day when feet will slip.” (at-Tabaraani, Ibn Bashraan and others, classed as hasan by al-Albaani)

Allah’s Love

The Prophet ﷺ said, “[Allah says:] ‘My love is due for those who love one another for My sake; My love is due for those who visit one another for My sake; My love is due for those who help one another for My sake; My love is due for those whose hearts are free of grudges and who uphold ties with one another for My sake.’” (Ahmed, Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani) 

It’s a means to Taste the Sweetness of True Faith

The Messenger of Allâh ﷺ said:

  • “Whoever would like to taste the sweetness of Eeman, then let them love a person – not loving them except for Allâh’s sake.” (Ahmad & al-Haakim, Al Hakim said its Isnaad is hasan)
  • “By the one in whose hands is my soul! None of you can enter Jannah until you believe and none of you can believe until you love each other for Allah’s sake.” (Sahih Muslim)
  • “There are three characteristics that if a person has them, he will taste the sweetness of Eeman (faith)… [of them is] to love another only for the sake of Allâh.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Shade on the Day of Judgment

Loving someone for the Sake of Allah carries with it with something even more beneficial – becoming of those who will be shaded on the Day of Judgement. On that Day, the sun will be extremely close to people, such that they will be drowning in their sweat. On that Day, there will be no shade or protection provided except that which is provided by Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allâh will ask on the Day of Judgment: “Where are those who loved each other for the sake of My glory? Today, on a day when there is no shade but Mine, I shall shade them with My shade.” (Sahih Muslim)

Raised Position in the Hereafter

The Messenger of Allâh ﷺ said: “Allâh, The Mighty and Majestic, says: ‘Those who have mutual love for the sake of My Glory will have pillars (seats) of light and will be envied by the Prophets and martyrs.’ (Tirmidhi, classed as sahih)

Imagine being amongst this group of people! Imagine being gathered with the ones you truly loved for Allah’s Sake; imagine being honoured in such a way; and imagine being elevated in such a way that even the most beloved of people to Allah – His Prophets and the martyrs – are envious!

May Allah make us amongst those who love each one another for His Sake, ameen!

CHARITY

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

  • “O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Zaalimoon (wrongdoers)” [al-Baqarah 2:254] 
  • “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allaah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allaah gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.
  • “Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allaah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve [al-Baqarah 2:261-262] 

 The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people in giving in charity, and that he did not think anything too valuable or anything too insignificant to give in charity. Rather if anyone was to ask for something then he ﷺ would give it to them. Whether it was little or whether it was great. His happiness and his joy in giving were greater than the joy of the one who was receiving that charity from him. 

VIRTUES OF CHARITY

We are blessed with more

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:

  • Allaah said: ‘Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.’” (Bukhari & Muslim)
  • “Whoever gives charity equal to a date from good (halal) earnings – for Allaah does not accept anything but that which is good – Allaah will take it in His right hand and tend it for the one who gave it as any one of you tends his foal, until it becomes like a mountain.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Angles pray for us (or against us if we don’t give)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no day on which the people get up but two angels come down and one of them says, ‘O Allaah, give in compensation to the one who spends (in charity),’ and the other says, ‘O Allaah, destroy the one who withholds.’”  (Bukhari & Muslim)

Be with the Prophet in Jannah (Sponsor an Orphan)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The one who sponsors an orphan, whether it is a relative of his or not, he and I will be like these two in Paradise,” and (pointed with his forefinger and middle finger).  (Muslim)
 

Expiates sins and saves a person from punishment

The Prophet ﷺ said:

  • “The fitnah [trial] of a man is in his family and his wealth and his neighbour, it is expiated by way of the prayer and the fasting and the giving of charity.(Bukhari)
  • “O assemblage of women; give in charity, and be plentiful in seeking forgiveness, for I saw that you form the majority of the people of Hell.”(Bukhari)
  • “Whoever among you who is able to screen [protect] himself against the Fire, even if it should be with half a date; then he should do so”. (Muslim)

Charity will be a means of shade on the Day of Resurrection

The Prophet ﷺ said:

  • “Every person will be in the shade of his charity until judgment is carried out upon the people.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
  • “Indeed the sadaqah [charity] extinguishes from its people the heat of the graves, and the believer will be shaded on the Day of Resurrection in the shade of his charity.” (Tabarani, Hasan)

Volunteering is form of Charity

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The honest Muslim trustee who carries out duties assigned to him (in another narration he said, “Who gives”), and he gives that in full, with his heart overflowing with cheerfulness, to whom he is ordered, he is one of the two givers of charity.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

VISTING THE SICK

Visiting the sick is considered a communal obligation upon the Ummah. One of the five rights that every Muslim has over another is to be visited when ill. There are many narrations which mention the virtues of visiting the sick. The Prophet ﷺ said,

  • “When the Muslim visits his (sick) Muslim brother, he is harvesting the fruits of Paradise until he returns.” (Sahih Muslim)
  • “Whoever visits a sick person or visits a brother in Islam, a caller cries out to him: ‘May you be happy, may your walking be blessed, and may you occupy a dignified position in Paradise’.” (At-Tirmidhi, classed as hasan by Albani.)
  • “There is no Muslim who visits a (sick) Muslim early in the morning but seventy thousand angels send blessings upon him until evening comes, and if he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels send blessings upon him until morning comes, and he will have a garden in Paradise.” (At-Tirmidhi, classed as hasan by Albani.)

SubhanAllah! These narrations should be more than enough incentive to us to seek out the ill in our community and to visit them, both with the sincere intention to cheer them up and for the rewards that Allah has promised us.

DAWAH

Da‘wah (calling to Islam) is one of the best acts of worship for those who seek closeness to Allaah The Almighty. Therefore, Allaah The Almighty selected for this task His Prophets and Messengers, and He made their followers their inheritors. Allaah The Almighty Says what means: {And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allaah and does righteousness and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims.”} [Quran 41:33] Indeed the Prophet ﷺ was reported to have mentioned that scholars are the inheritors of the prophets. [At-Tirmithi and others. Al-Albaani: Saheeh]

Da’wah comes from tad’u, which means to supplicate, call, request, encourage, seek help, incline towards, or ask. Islamically it involves:

  1. Calling people to Allah Azza wa Jall
  2. Making people better worshippers of Allah Azza wa Jall
  3. Encouraging others to become better in practice and understanding of Allah’s religion.
  4. Benefits of dawah:

 BENEFITS OF DAWAH

It is a form of ongoing charity

The Prophet ﷺ  said: “When a man dies, his good deeds come to an end except three: on going charity, beneficial knowledge and righteous offspring who will pray for him.” (Muslim)

It brings benefit, not only to the one you’re calling, but to yourself

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever guides someone to virtue will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action”. [Muslim].

We are raised above other nations by virtue of da’wah

You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah . If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. [3:110]

Other Deeds with great Rewards 

Observing voluntary fasts, visiting the sick and giving charity

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: “Who among you is fasting today?” Abu Bakr (R.A.) said: “I am.” He ﷺ said: “Who among you has attended a funeral today?” Abu Bakr (R.A.) said: “I have.” He ﷺ said: “Who among you has fed a poor person today?’ Abu Bakr (R.A.) said: “I have.” He ﷺ said: “Who among you has visited a sick person today?” Abu Bakr (R.A.) said: “I have.” The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: “These (traits) are not combined in a person but he will enter Paradise.” Narrated by Muslim, 1028. 

Hiding Faults

The Prophet ﷺ said,

  • “Allâh will cover up on the Day of Resurrection the defects (faults) of the one who covers up the faults of the others in this world.” (Sahih Muslim)
  • “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. So he should not oppress him nor should he hand him over to (his satan or to his self which is inclined to evil). Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allâh will fulfill his needs; whoever removes the troubles of his brother, Allâh will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever covers up the fault of a Muslim, Allâh will cover up his fault on the Day of Resurrection.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

This is not a general rule, and we just hide anything and everything, there are situations where we are actually obligated to let others know to save them from loss or being cheated or fitna.

 Reconciling between people

The Messenger of Allâh ﷺ said: “Shall I not tell you something that is better than the status of (voluntary) fasting, prayer and charity?” The people said: “Yes.” He said: “Reconciling in a case of discord…”(Abu Dawood & at-Tirmidhi, classed as hasan by Albani)

Many people get into conflicts with one another, and few people are willing to intervene and reconcile the opposing parties – sometimes due to their own friendship loyalties, or out of a twisted enjoyment of watching people fight. However, to reconcile between Muslims who are in a state of discord with one another is a good deed that can be even more superior to voluntary prayer and fasting.

Make du’a for each other

The Prophet ﷺ said:  “A Muslim’s supplication for his brother in secret is answered. At his head an angel is appointed, and whenever he supplicates for his brother with something good, the angel appointed to him says: ‘Amîn, and likewise for you.’” (Sahih Muslim)