GOOD DEEDS (PART 2)

NO MATTER HOW SMALL….

Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) taught us to carry out good deeds, no matter how small they are. In Islam, even a smile to a neighbour or removing a harmful object from the road, is classed as an act of charity. Abu Huraira (RadiyAllahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet, SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

“A man passed by a fallen branch in the middle of the road and said, ‘By Allah, I will remove this from the path of the Muslims so that it does not inconvenience them’ and he was admitted into the Garden (Paradise).”
[Recorded in Muslim]

The Prophet’s wife Aishah (RadiyAllahu Anha) reported that the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

“O people, you should do whatever good deeds you can, for Allah does not get tired (of giving reward) until you get tired. And the most beloved of good deeds to Allah is that in which a person persists, even if it is little. If the family of Muhammad (SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) started to do something, they would persist in it.”
[Bukhari / Muslim]

Narrated Abu Dharr (RadiyAllahu Anhu): The Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:

“Do not disdain any good deed, even your meeting with your brother with a cheerful face.”
[Muslim]

GOOD TREATMENT OF OTHERS:

The following are just a few quotes from the Holy Qur’an enjoining good treatment and kindness to others:

”Remember when We made a covenant with the tribe of Israel: “Worship none but Allah, and be good to your parents, relatives, orphans, and the very poor. Speak good words to people. Establish prayer and pay alms.” But then you turned away – except a few of you – you turned aside.”
(Qur’an 2:83)

”Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: My Lord! Bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.”
(Qur’an 17:23)

“And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), “Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal.”
(Qur’an 31:14)

The Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) continuously insisted on people treating others correctly. The following hadith (sayings of the Prophet) are a few of his sayings regarding our behaviour towards others:

“By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!”

It was said, “Who is that, O Allah’s Apostle?”

He said, “That person whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil.”
[Bukhari]

“None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”
[Bukhari, Muslim]

“A Muslim is a brother of Muslim, he neither wrongs him nor does hand him over to one who does him wrong. If anyone fulfils his brother’s needs, Allah will fulfil his needs; if one relieves a Muslim of his troubles, Allah will relieve his troubles on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

“The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.”
[Daraqutni, Hasan]

“The most beloved of people according to Allah is he who brings most benefit, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need, than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month. Whoever holds back his anger, Allah will cover his faults, and whoever suppresses his fury while being able to execute it, Allah will fill his heart with satisfaction on the Day of Standing. Whoever walks with his brother Muslim in need until he establishes that for him, Allah will establish his feet firmly on the day when all feet shall slip. Indeed, bad character ruins deeds just as vinegar ruins honey.”
[Tabarani, Hasan]

“Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others’ faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah’s worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!”)
[Bukhari]

“Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbour, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet. (i.e. abstain from all kinds of evil and dirty talk).”
[Bukhari]

“The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family.”
[Tirmidhi, Sahih]