FASTABIQUL KHAYRAT – RACE TO DO GOOD DEEDS
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
In terms of doing good deeds, Allah Reminded us:
“Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” 16:97
FROM THE QUR’AN
Verses 2:148 and 5:48 – 2 verses issue a command to all human beings: fastabiqul khairat, literally meaning, “race each other in all things that are good.”
“For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers). So hasten towards all that is good. Wheresoever you may be, Allah will bring you together (on the Day of Resurrection). Truly, Allah is Able to do all things.” 2:148
“And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad [Peace and Blessings be upon him]) the Book (this Qur’an) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Mohayminan (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures) . So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging away from the truth that has come to you. To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way. If Allah willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you; so strive as in a race in good deeds. The return of you (all) is to Allah; then He will inform you about that in which you used to differ.” 5:48
FROM A HADEETH
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Hasten to do good deeds before there come tribulations like pieces of a dark night, when a man will be a believer in the morning and a kaafir by evening, or he will be a believer in the evening and a kaafir by morning, selling his religious commitment for worldly gain.”
Narrated by Muslim, 118.
Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings be upon him) said, “I was shown the past nations. I saw a Prophet who had a very small group (less than ten in total) with him, another Prophet who was accompanied by only one or two men and some did not have even one. Suddenly I was shown a huge crowd and I thought that they were my Ummah, but I was told: ‘This is Musa (Moses) and his people, but look towards the other side.’ I looked and beheld a great assemblage. I was told: ‘These are your people and amongst them there are seventy thousand who shall enter Jannah without being taken to account or torment”. Then the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) stood up and went into his apartment, and the Companions began to guess who may be those people who would enter Jannah without any accounting or torment. Some said: “Probably, they are the ones who kept company with Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings be upon him)”. Others said: “Probably, they are the ones who have been born as Muslims and have never associated anyone with Allah in worship”. Then Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings be upon him) came out and asked, “What are you discussing?” So they told him. He then said, “They are those who do not make Ruqyah (blowing over themselves after reciting the Qur’an or some prayers and supplications the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) used to say) nor seek it, nor perceive omens (i.e., they are not pessimistic) but keep trust in their Rubb (Allah).” On this ‘Ukashah bin Mihsan stood up and asked: “Pray to Allah to make me one of them.” The Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) said, “You are one of them.” Then another man stood up and asked the same thing. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) answered, “‘Ukashah has surpassed you”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary:
1. This Hadith mentions the importance of faith in Allah, inducement for having trust in Him and the distinction of people who have these qualities.
2. Although the practice of blowing over someone after reciting the Qur’an or supplications of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) and medical treatment are permissible but they who avoid them because of their extreme trust in Allah and save themselves from bad omen, enjoy a distinguished position.
3. These conditions of various communities were shown to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) in dreams for the dreams of the Prophets reflect the truth, or by means of Revelation, or he had witnessed them in the event of Isra (the Night Journey) of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him).
4. The followers of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) exceed the followers of other Prophets in number.
5. The companions are competing with one another to ask the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) to pray for them. Ukasha was the first to ask the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) first
ALLAH COMPLEMENTED THOSE WHO EXCELS AND TRIED TO BE THE FOREMOST:
Surah al Mu’minun 23
57. Verily! Those who live in awe for fear of their Lord;
58. And those who believe in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord,
59. And those who join not anyone (in worship) as partners with their Lord;
60. And those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear (whether their alms and charities, etc., have been accepted or not), because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning).
61. It is these who race for the good deeds, and they are foremost in them [e.g. offering the compulsory Salat (prayers) in their (early) stated, fixed times and so on].
REWARD FOR THOSE WHO ARE THE FOREMOST
Surah al Waqiah 56
10. And those foremost [(in Islamic Faith of Monotheism and in performing righteous deeds) in the life of this world on the very first call for to embrace Islam,] will be foremost (in Paradise).
11. These will be those nearest to Allah.
12. In the Gardens of delight (Paradise).
13. A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam).
14. And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later time (generations).
15. (They will be) on thrones woven with gold and precious stones,
Surah Fatir 35
32. Then We gave the Book the Qur’an) for inheritance to such of Our slaves whom We chose (the followers of Muhammad[SAW]). Then of them are some who wrong their ownselves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allah’s Leave, foremost in good deeds. That (inheritance of the Qur’an), that is indeed a great grace.
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RACE WITH ONE ANOTHER TOWARDS ASKING FOR ALLAH’S FORGIVENESS
Surah al Hadid 57: 20
Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord (Allah), and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.
Surah al imran (3)
133. And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqun (the pious)
EVEN TO DECLARE AS THE FIRST OF MUSLIMS – ALLAH REMINDED US TO COMPETE (“THE FIRST OF THE MUSLIM”)
Surah al an’am (6)
162. Say (O Muhammad [Peace and Blessings be upon him]): “Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
163. “He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.”
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Please ensure, when performing good deeds, the following principles MUST be applied inshaAllah:
- Prioritise obligatory deeds first, then voluntary deeds
- Do NOT ignore the voluntary deeds
- Ensure that you seek knowledge on what deeds to perform and how to perform them
- Ensure you know how deeds get accepted
- intention
- follow Qur’an and sunnah
- Do deeds consistently, even though small
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.”
Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 4240
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
- Make du’a to Allah to Accept the good deeds
“…Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” 2: 127
The kinds of good deeds that a person can do every day include the following:
1 – Praying in congregation in the mosque
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning and evening, Allah will prepare for him an honourable place in Paradise every time he goes and comes.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 631; Muslim, 669.
2 – Attending funerals and offering the funeral prayer
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever attends a funeral until he offers the (funeral) prayer will have one qiraat (of reward) and whoever attends until the burial is done will have two qiraats.” It was said: “What are the two qiraats?” He said: “Like two great mountains.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1261; Muslim, 945
3 – Saying “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer (There is no god but Allaah alone, with no partner or associate; His is the Dominion, to Him be all praise, and He is able to do all things)” one hundred times each day.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever says Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer one hundred times in a day, it will be as if he freed ten slaves, and one hundred hasanaat (good deeds) will be recorded for him, and one hundred sayi’aat (bad deeds) will be erased from him, and it will be a protection for him against the Shaytaan all that day until evening comes. No one can do anything better than that except one who does more.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3119; Muslim, 2691.
4 – Upholding the ties of kinship
It was narrated that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his lifespan extended, let him uphold his ties of kinship.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5639; Muslim, 2557.
5 – Observing voluntary fasts, visiting the sick and giving charity.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Who among you is fasting today?” Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I am.” He said: “Who among you has attended a funeral today?” Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I have.” He said: “Who among you has fed a poor person today?’ Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I have.” He said: “Who among you has visited a sick person today?” Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I have.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “These (traits) are not combined in a person but he will enter Paradise.”
Narrated by Muslim, 1028.
6 – Saying Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdih (Praise and glory be to Allaah) one hundred times.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever says Subhaan Allah wa bi hamdih (Praise and glory be to Allah) one hundred times, morning and evening, his sins will be erased even if they are like the foam of the sea.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6042; Muslim, 2691.
7 – Tasbeeh, tahmeed and takbeer, and enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, and praying Duha.
It was narrated from Abu Dharr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “For every bone of the son of Adam a charity must be given each day. Every tasbeehah [saying Subhaan Allah (Glory be to Allah)] is a charity, every tahmeedah [saying al-hamdu Lillaah (praise be to Allah)] is a charity, every tahleelah [saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allah)] is a charity, every takbeerah [saying Allaahu akbar [Allaah is Most Great]) is a charity, enjoining what is good is a charity, forbidding what is evil is a charity, and two rak’ahs offered in the mid-morning (Duha) is sufficient.”
Narrated by Muslim, 720.
8 – Reading Qur’aan.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever reads a letter of the Book of Allah will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is a letter, rather alif is a letter, laam is a letter and meem is a letter.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2910; he said it is hasan saheeh. Also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
And there are many other good deeds. The Muslim should seek the help of his Lord to do good deeds, and do his best to do them. He should persist in doing these good deeds even if they are little, for that is better than doing a lot of good deeds then stopping.
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “O people, you should do whatever good deeds you can, for Aleah 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 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) started to do something, they would persist in it.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 43; Muslim, 782.
