How is a good Muslim an excellent citizen?

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

The standard by which a Muslim is considered excellent is Taqwa (piety) of Allah, holding tight to the Islamic directives, performing actions of good deeds to others, and teaching them what is good for them in this worldly life and for their religion.

Al-Tabarani reported in his Maujim that Ibn Umar (Radiya Allahu Anhu) narrated that a man came to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and asked him: “O, Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), who is the person most beloved by Allah, and what are the actions that are most beloved by Allah.”  The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) replied: “The person most beloved by Allah is the one who helps people better than anyone else, and the best actions beloved by Allah are: Bringing joy to a Muslim, relieving his agony, paying his debts and feeding him when hungry.  Indeed, it is better for me to go to help my brother in need than to make I’tikaf in this Mosque (meaning Madinah Mosque) for a whole month.  Whoever controls his anger, Allah will conceal his sin, and whoever suppresses his anger when he is capable of doing harm if he wishes, Allah will fill his heart with peace on the Day of Judgement.  Whoever goes to fulfill the need of a Muslim and stays with him until he fulfils it for him, Allah will make his feet firm on the Sirat, on the Day the feet of other people will slip over and fall (into Hellfire).”Shiakh al Alabani graded it as Hasan (acceptable).

There is no doubt that the more the benefit reaches other people, the better and bigger its reward is.

Therefore, the person whose benefit extends to the whole society, is better than the one whose benefits is limited to one individual or some individuals.

So, the good Muslim will be distinguished by being sincere to his work and to the Muslims, and by being keen on fulfilling the Orders of Allah, doing good to other Muslims and being merciful to them.

Allah knows best.