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Conditions by Which Good Deeds are Rewarded in Islâm
By
Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
Allâh I bestows love on those who believe and work deeds of righteousness (Qur’an 19:96). He I is the Rabb (Only Cherisher and Sustainer) of Grace, Abounding (Qur’an 57:29). He I listens to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness and gives them an increase of His Bounty (42:26). He grants the need of every creature (55:29). His bounties are not closed to any one (17:20). This is the reason why non-Muslims who desire and work for material prosperity, fame and other worldly needs in this world attain success in this temporary life. They receive Allâh’s reward for any righteous deed or virtuous act done in this world. If they desire happiness in this present world and work for it, Allâh I grants them their needs. However, their rewards will only be temporary because they do not meet the following conditions by which good deeds are rewarded both in this present life and in the eternal life Hereafter:
“...But
if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would
have been of no benefit to them.” (6:88)
“Say
(O Muhammad): “I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration
has come to me, that your God is One God: whoever expects to meet His Rabb, let
him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Rabb, admit no one as
partner.” (18:110)
And indeed it has been revealed
to you (O Muhammadr),
as it was to those (Allâh’s Messengers) before you: "If you join others
in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you
will certainly be among the losers.”
(39:65)
“Say, ‘Verily, I am commanded to serve Allâh with sincere devotion.’” (39:14)
“Call then upon Allâh with sincere devotion to Him even though the Unbelievers may detest it.” (40:14)
‘Umar
ibn Al-Khattabt
said: I heard Allâh’s Messengerr
saying, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every
person will get the reward according to what he has intended. Thus he whose
migration was for Allâh and His Messengerr,
his migration had been for Allâh and His Messengerr,
and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or take some woman in
marriage, his migration had been for that for which he migrated.” (Bukhâri
1/1 and Muslim 3/ 4692)
“O you who believe! Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) and render not vain your deeds.” (47:33)
The third condition implies that we Muslims should refrain from committing Bid‘ah (innovation or fabrication in religion). We should know that Islâm is a perfect religion. It is not only complete, but applies to all generations at all times, under any circumstances. The Prophet r serves as the best example for all of us. He not only stresses the importance of knowing and holding on to the Qur’ân and Sunnah, but also warns us to avoid Bid‘ah (innovation or fabrication) in our religion.
Jâbir ibn ‘Abdullâh t narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r said, “The best speech is that embodied in the Book of Allâh, and the best guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. The most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is an error.” (Muslim 1885)
The three conditions by which good deeds are rewarded in Islâm imply that only those who sincerely accept and practice Islâm will have their rewards with Allâh I in the Hereafter. Allâh I stresses:
“If anyone desires a religion other than Islâm (submission to Allâh), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).” (3:85)
It is very clear that those who practice other ways of life outside Islâm will have grievous punishments in Hell-Fire. The ways are: Shirk (polytheism), Nifâq (hypocrisy), Bid‘ah (innovation in religion) and Kufr (disbelief or rejection of truth). The hypocrites and the non-Muslims must sincerely turn to Islâm, as it is the only way to salvation. Verily, the polytheists, the hypocrites, the innovators in religion and the unbelievers will go to Hell-Fire, if they die in non-Islâmic way or condition:
“And that He may punish the Hypocrites, men and women and the Polytheists, men and women, who imagine an evil opinion of Allâh. On them is a round of Evil, the Wrath of Allâh is on them. He has cursed them and got Hell ready for them, and evil is it for a destination.” (48:6)
“Those, who disbelieve in Islâm from among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire to dwell therein forever. They are the worst of creatures.” (98:6)
“Do then those who disbelieve think that they can take my servants as protectors besides Me? Verily, We have prepared Hell as an entertainment for the disbelievers.” (18:102)
All of us should avoid committing hypocrisy. We should be careful to commit any of the following characteristics of a hypocrite:
‘Abdullâh ibn ‘Amr t
narrated that Allâh’s Messengerr
said, “Whoever has (the
following) four characteristics will be a pure hypocrite: If he speaks, he tells
a lie; if he gives a promise, he breaks it; if he makes a covenant,
he proves treacherous; and if he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent
evil insulting manner (unjust). And whoever has one of these characteristics,
has one characteristic of a hypocrite, unless he gives it up.” (Bukhâri
4/403)
For our eternal success, we should sincerely pray to Allâh I for His forgiveness and refrain from any form of hypocrisy. We should fear the punishments due to the hypocrites in the Hell-Fire.
“Verily,
the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire. No helper will you find
for them. Except for those who repent (mend their lives), hold fast to Allâh
and purify their religion for Allâh. Then they will be with the believers. And
soon will Allâh grant to the believers a great reward. What can Allâh gain by
your punishment if you are grateful and you believe? And Allâh is Ever All-Appreciative (of all good),
All-Knowing.” (4:145-147)
For the guidance of the non-Muslims, they should open their hearts to Islâm so that whatever good deeds they do will not be in vain or futile. Allâh I is ever just to all those who believe and follow Him:
Anas ibn Mâlik t narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r said: “Verily, Allâh does not treat a believer unjustly in regard to his virtues. He would confer upon him (His blessings) in this world and would give him reward in the Hereafter. And as regards a non-believer, he would be made to taste the reward (of virtue in this world) what he has done for himself so much when it would be the Hereafter, he would find no virtue for which he should be rewarded.” (Muslim 6739)
Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqâs t narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r said, “It is a fine thing when a believer praises and thanks Allâh if good comes to him, and praises Allâh and shows endurance if smitten by affliction. The believer is rewarded for everything, even for the morsel he raises to his wife's mouth.” (Tirmidhî, 1733)
Khabbâb ibn Al-Arat t narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r said, “No believer spends anything without being rewarded for it, except for what he spends on this dust.” (Tirmidhî, 5182 and Ibn Mâjah)
We, Muslims, must thank Allâh I for guiding us to Islâm. We should see to it that everything we think, say and do is done sincerely for Allâh. We should dedicate everything to Allâh I:
“Say:
‘Truly my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all)
for Allâh, the Rabb (Only God, Cherisher and Sustainer) of the Worlds.” (6:162)
We should follow the Qur’ân and Sunnah and refrain from Bid’ah, hypocrisy, show-off and any un-Islâmic deed that will displease Allâh I. We should be God-conscious and God-fearing at all times. We must remember that Allâh I has appointed two angels for each and every one of us. One angel sits on the right and one on the left (to record all our deeds) (50:17). The following authentic Hâdîth tells us the recording of both the good and bad deeds:
Abű Hurairah t
narrated that the Prophet r
said, “Allâh ordered (the appointed angels over you) that the good and the
bad deeds be written. He then showed (the way) how (to write). If somebody
intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allâh will write for him
a full good deed (in his account with Him).
If he intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allâh will
write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven
hundred times to many more times. If somebody intended to do a bad deed and he
does not do it, then Allâh will write a full good deed (in his account) with
Him; and if he intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually did it,
then Allâh will write one bad deed (in his account).” (Bukhâri 8/498
and 9/592)
On the Day of Judgment everything will be accounted. Anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good and an atom’s weight of evil shall see it (99:6-8). AllâhI will take account everything on the scales of justice so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least (21:47). Allâh I will reward all of us Muslims who follow the Qur’ân and Sunnah and do good deeds solely for His Pleasure. He will reward us, if not in this world, then surely in the Hereafter.
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(this service) from us. Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All Knowing.”
(Qur’ân 2:127)