Righteous Deeds

20-8-2001 | IslamWeb

Question:

Who are those meant by the verse: “... those who believed (A'manoo) and did righteous deeds (Wa Amelo as-Saleehat) will prosper...” what kind of righteous deeds does the verse refer to? And what did they believe in?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

When Allah Says in the Quran (what means) {…those who believe and do righteous deeds} that means those people who embrace Islam, witness that there is nothing that deserves worship other than Allah Alone, Who does not have any partner, and believe that the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His Messenger. Such people also {do righteous deeds}, i.e. follow the Commands of Allah and His Prophet, and avoid what is forbidden in the Sharee’ah. Whoever follows this path Allah will Honour him by admitting him to His Paradise and rescuing him from Hellfire. Allah Allah Says (what means):

• {Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - their Lord will guide them because of their faith. Beneath them rivers will flow in the Gardens of Pleasure. Their call therein will be, "Exalted are You, O Allah," and their greeting therein will be, "Peace." And the last of their call will be, "Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!"} [Quran 10:9-10]

• {Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - they will have the Gardens of Paradise as a lodging. Wherein they abide eternally. They will not desire from it any transfer.} [Quran 18:107-108]

There are many righteous deeds; for instance fulfilling all the obligations imposed by Allah such as performing prayers, giving Zakaah, fasting during the month of Ramadan, performing Hajj, avoiding evils like adultery/fornication, consuming drugs and intoxicants, being involved in magic, killing others, lying and many other things mentioned in the Quran and the Sunnah.

In addition to these obligations, there are many desirable acts, which are also considered among good deeds. Examples of such acts are the supererogatory prayers, late night prayer, fasting Mondays Thursdays and three days during every month, reciting the Quran, giving charity, continuously remembering Allah and invoking blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

Know that belief increases through good deeds and decreases through bad deeds. Their belief is that Allah is their Lord, Islam is their religion and Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is their Prophet.

There are six integral parts of Iman (belief) that every Muslim must believe in; they are as follows:

1. Belief in Allah,

2. Belief in His Angels,

3. Belief in His revealed Books,

4. Belief in His Messengers and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was the Last Prophet,

5. Belief in the Last Day,

6. Belief in Divine Decree.

The Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) mentioned all the above six elements when he was asked about Iman. He replied: “It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers and the Last Day, and that you believe in the Predestination in its bad and good consequences.” [Al-Bukhari]

Whoever fulfills the above conditions, he is promised the Paradise of Allah, and he who does not do so, surely will enter Hellfire.

Allah knows best.

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