RIGHTEOUS DEED 
IN ITS TRUE SENSE

Shaykh Saalih bin Humayd

Every Muslim in every hour of his life owes a duty to his Lord which he must carry out according to his capability and this duty runs through his life. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:
“And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (i.e. death)” (Al-Hijr 15:99)

He also says:
“Say: Verily, my Salaah, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. He has no partner.”(Al-An‘aam 6:162-163)

This is in addition to what Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) endowed the Muslims with of blessed days like the days of Ramadhaan days of Dhul-Hijjah. These necessitate that a wise Muslim do righteous deeds.

Righteous deeds occupy great position in Islam. It is always mentioned along with Iman in the Book of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says,

“And he who works deeds of righteousness, while he is a believer, then he will have no fear of injustice, nor of any curtailment (of his reward)”(Taahaa 20:112)

He also says:
“Verily those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah) and do righteous deeds, shall have Gardens of Paradise for their entertainment”(Al-Kahf 18:107)

The Quraan and Sunnah have detailed explanations for those righteous good deeds, its fruits, its impacts and the causes for its acceptance.

Belief in the Oneness of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), knowing the truth, sincerity, adherence to Sunnah, eating lawful things and repentance are all types of righteous deeds. Whoever knows Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) but does not know the truth will not benefit and whoever knows the truth but does not know Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) will not benefit. Also, whoever knows Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), knows the truth and is sincere but is not on Sunnah will not benefit. If he has all this but does not eat lawful things and refrain from unlawful things and sins he will not benefit.

No one should hope for acceptance of his deeds except him who is sincere in his acts of worship, fears for his sins, belittles his acts of worship and recognizes the greatness and knowledge of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa).

The righteous deeds should be free of all acts of shirk (Polytheism). Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:

“Whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as partner in the worship of his Lord.”(Al-Kahf 18:110)

Good deeds should also be free from innovation. The Prophet (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam) said, “Whoever innovates anything in this religion of ours which is not part of it, it will be rejected.” He also said, “Every innovation is error and every error leads to Hell.” One must follow Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam) in all acts of worship. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:

“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If you really love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.” (Aal-‘Imraan 3:32)

It is by following Sunnah that one can be fortified against innovations.

Further, sincerity is also a condition for the acceptance of good deeds. Lack of sincerity of purpose is the great invalidator of any good deed. The Prophet (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam) said, “Beware of hidden acts of shirk (Polytheism). An example in this regard is a man who offers Salaah and endeavours to perfect his Salaah because he sees someone looking at him. That is hidden shirk.” (Ibn Khuzaymah)

If doing righteous deeds for the sake of winning people’s attention is regarded as showing off, working for personal worldly interest and not for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s pleasure is more dangerous. It is indeed lack of success and spiritual misery that leads man should do righteous deeds for worldly gains.

Sincerity means the agreement of deeds with intention. A sincere slave of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), carries out deeds of righteousness for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), whether he is seen by people or not; whether he gains anything of this world or not, for he has no desire for anything except the pleasure of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and the Paradise. He never runs except from the punishment of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa).

The issue of intention is a critical and delicate one. It is the basis for acceptance or rejection of any act and the way to success and loss. Sufyaan Ath-Thawree said, “I have never treated anything that is more difficult than my intention.” Fear Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) therefore, for what is required of righteous deeds is good intention and sincerity.

Sincerity provides one with power to establish the truth, to have patience and constancy. It brings manifold favours from Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and turns mere lawful things into acts of worship hence making the whole life of a Muslim spent for Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) alone.

Earning lawful things follows sincerity in importance, for Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) is Good and does not accept but good things. The good things are those declared so by Islam and not by human taste. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:

“Say: Not equal are evil things and good things even though the abundance of evil may please you. So fear Allah, O men of understanding that you may be successful.” (Al-Maaidah 5:100)

Among the qualities of the Prophet (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam) is that he did and enjoined only good and pure things and prohibited filthy and bad things. A Muslim is supposed to be clean and pure in heart, body and speech; clean in heart because of the faith he has; clean in tongue because of the zikr he does; clean in body because of good deeds he performs. Among things that assist one to do good deeds is eating lawful things, for righteous deeds cannot become pure except through eating of Halaal and Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) commands the believer to eat lawful things as He has commanded the Messenger (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam). He says:

“O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that we have provided you with and be grateful to Allah, if it is indeed He whom you worship.”(Al-Baqarah 2:172)

Do not forget, while you are doing good deeds to be constant on that for Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam) has said:

“The best of deeds is the one done constantly, even if it is little.”

Ibne Al-Jawzee said, “The one who does good constantly is consistent in serving his Lord, for the one who stays at the door at a particular time each day is not like the one who stays for a whole single day and then stops.” One should also endeavour to be moderate, balanced and considerate of his duties and rights to others, for “your soul has a right upon you and your spouse has a right upon you so give each of them its right.”

It is not also proper for a Muslim to exert effort on some acts of worship and neglect others, for Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam) said, “Be on the right course, be closer to each other, give glad tidings and make use of the morning and evening as well as a slight part of the night for acts of worship and be moderate in order to achieve your goal.”

These are the righteous deeds and its conditions. Although man is naturally faulty and all the children of Adam commit mistakes, but the best of these are those who repent, do good deeds, have sincere hearts and serious aspirations, far from heedlessness and selfishness, seek for Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s pleasure and fear His punishment.

“Those who live in awe for fear of their Lord; and those who believe in the verses of their Lord; and those who join not anyone in worship as partners with their Lord; and those who give charity with their hearts full of fear (whether their charity have been accepted or not) because they are sure to return to their Lord for reckoning.” (Al-Mu’minoon 23:57-61)

Heedlessness is the head of all sins. Al-Hasan said, “The righteous deed is a light in the heart and a strength in the body and sin is a darkness in the heart and a weakness in the body. The darkness of sin blows out the light of righteousness. Hasten, therefore, to do good deeds.”

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says:
“And for this they should strive those who want to strive (i.e. hasten to the obedience of Allah).” (Al-Mutaffifeen 83:26)

Hasten to do righteous deeds for death may come suddenly while delaying action is an entry of Shaitaan (Satan). Hastening to do righteous deeds helps one to carry out one’s obligations, pleases Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and erases sins.

The righteous predecessors were fearful of this verse, “Verily, Allah accepts only from those who are pious.”

Fear Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) then, and examine yourselves. How can a man know Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and not fulfil his obligations to Him? How can one claim to love the Prophet (SallAllahu alaihe wa sallam) and yet not follow him? How can one read the Quraan and not work by it? How can one live by the favour of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and yet not thank him; not take Shaitaan as an enemy, not work for Jannah (Paradise) and not prepare for death? How can he talk about other people’s faults and forget his own? This person and people like him are heedless and forgetful. Shaitaan has deceived them and made them forget the Zikr (Remembrance) of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). They will certainly come to regret if they do not repent.

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