There are many different kinds of righteous deeds that can be done by rich and poor, old and young, male and female, depending on each person’s circumstances, ambition and energy, after the help of Allaah.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)”
(al-Nahl 16:97)
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah, RadhiAllahu Anhu, that the Messenger of Allaah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Hasten to do good deeds before there come tribulations like pieces of a dark night, when a man will be a believer in the morning and a kaafir by evening, or he will be a believer in the evening and a kaafir by morning, selling his religious commitment for worldly gain.”
[Narrated by Muslim, 118.]
The kinds of good deeds that a person can do every day include the following:
1 – Praying in congregation in the mosque:
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah, RadhiAllahu Anhu, that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning and evening, Allaah will prepare for him an honourable place in Paradise every time he goes and comes.”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 631; Muslim, 669.]
2 – Attending funerals and offering the funeral prayer:
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) said: The Messenger of Allaah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Whoever attends a funeral until he offers the (funeral) prayer will have one qiraat (of reward) and whoever attends until the burial is done will have two qiraats.”
It was said:
“What are the two qiraats?”
He, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
“Like two great mountains.”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1261; Muslim, 945]
3 – Saying “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer” (There is no god but Allaah alone, with no partner or associate; His is the Dominion, to Him be all praise, and He is able to do all things)” one hundred times each day:
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Whoever says Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer one hundred times in a day, it will be as if he freed ten slaves, and one hundred hasanaat (good deeds) will be recorded for him, and one hundred sayi’aat (bad deeds) will be erased from him, and it will be a protection for him against the Shaytaan all that day until evening comes. No one can do anything better than that except one who does more.”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3119; Muslim, 2691.]
4 – Upholding the ties of kinship:
It was narrated that Anas (RadhiAllahu Anhu) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) say:
“Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his lifespan extended, let him uphold his ties of kinship.”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5639; Muslim, 2557.]
5 – Observing voluntary fasts, visiting the sick and giving charity:
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah, RadhiAllahu Anhu, said: The Messenger of Allaah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Who among you is fasting today?”
Abu Bakr (RadhiAllahu Anhu) said: “I am.”
He, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said: “Who among you has attended a funeral today?”
Abu Bakr (RadhiAllahu Anhu) said: “I have.”
He, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said: “Who among you has fed a poor person today?’
Abu Bakr (RadhiAllahu Anhu) said: “I have.”
He, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said: “Who among you has visited a sick person today?”
Abu Bakr (RadhiAllahu Anhu) said: “I have.”
The Messenger of Allaah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: “These (traits) are not combined in a person but he will enter Paradise.”
[Narrated by Muslim, 1028.]
6 – Saying Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdih (Praise and glory be to Allaah) one hundred times:
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah, RadhiAllahu Anhu, said: The Messenger of Allaah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Whoever says Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdih (Praise and glory be to Allaah) one hundred times, morning and evening, his sins will be erased even if they are like the foam of the sea.”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6042; Muslim, 2691.]
7 – Tasbeeh, tahmeed and takbeer, and enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, and praying Duha:
It was narrated from Abu Dharr, RadhiAllahu Anhu, that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“For every bone of the son of Adam a charity must be given each day. Every tasbeehah [saying Subhaan Allaah (Glory be to Allaah)] is a charity, every tahmeedah [saying al-hamdu Lillaah (praise be to Allaah)] is a charity, every tahleelah [saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah)] is a charity, every takbeerah [saying Allaahu akbar [Allaah is Most Great]) is a charity, enjoining what is good is a charity, forbidding what is evil is a charity, and two rak’ahs offered in the mid-morning (Duha) is sufficient.”
[Narrated by Muslim, 720.]
8 – Reading Qur’aan:
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood, RadhiAllahu Anhu, said: The Messenger of Allaah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Whoever reads a letter of the Book of Allaah will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is a letter, rather alif is a letter, laam is a letter and meem is a letter.”
[Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2910; he said it is hasan saheeh. Also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.]
And there are many other good deeds. The Muslim should seek the help of his Lord to do good deeds, and do his best to do them. He should persist in doing these good deeds even if they are little, for that is better than doing a lot of good deeds then stopping.
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah, RadhiAllahu Anha, said: The Messenger of Allaah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“O people, you should do whatever good deeds you can, for Allaah does not get tired (of giving reward) until you get tired. And the most beloved of good deeds to Allaah is that in which a person persists, even if it is little.” If the family of Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) started to do something, they would persist in it.”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 43; Muslim, 782.]
And Allaah knows best.