Why Should You Be Good? – Understand the Concept of Goodness in Islam

(Have we ever pondered why in today’s society community bonds are weakened? We witness a lot of hatred, jealousy, conflicts, and disagreements compared to earlier times. It’s because people have stopped doing good to others, people have become selfish just focusing on their interests, and people feel like a burden in helping others, Therefore we fail to attain good character. Let’s look forward to how we can do good to others. This article should act as a motivation and shed light on the concept of goodness and reason to be good) The term ‘good’ has many words in Arabic: ihsan, salihat, and khair are the most prominent ones in the Qur’an.

“It is they who race to do good deeds (khairat), always taking the lead.” [Surah Shu’ara: 61]

“Those who believe and do good deeds (salihat).” [Surah al-Asr: 3]

“Allah commands justice and ihsan (good).” [Surah Nahl: 99]

Four Traits of Goodness in a Muslim mentioned in One Verse

“You are the best of the people, brought out for the khair (good) of humanity commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil, and you believe in Allah.” [Surah Ale-Imran: 110]

The above verse displays four extraordinary zones of effort in being good. None of the four things should be missed:

1. Being good toward all of humanity.
2. Commanding people to do good.
3. Stopping people from evil.
4. Believing in Allah (correctly).

Goodness Has to be Done with Sincerity “For them who have done good is the best [reward], and extra. No darkness will cover their faces, nor humiliation. Those are companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.” [Surah Yunus:  26] The verse above highlights Islam’s emphasis on genuine goodness, which must be practiced sincerely so that the world may witness the true beauty of Islam. Goodness in Islam is not merely an outward display but a heartfelt virtue, pursued with the hope of earning Allah’s reward. One cannot sustain false righteousness or feigned piety for long, as such pretense was a hallmark of the hypocrites. Allah says,

“But honour and glory belong to Allah, and His Messenger, and the believers, but the hypocrites know not.” [Surah Al-Munafiqūn: 8]

Being Good is One of The Best Blessings Of Allah Those who have done good are the best, and they will be rewarded with a good reward in the hereafter, which are the greatest blessings that are greater than anything else, and they will be granted with all of them. They are:

• Having true Faith and belief
• Performing righteous deeds
• Attaining Paradise and the blessings contained within it.

It also gives dominance in society, as the following verse informs:

“And you will be uppermost and respected if only you were true believers.” [Surah Ale ‘Imrān: 139]

Being Good Benefits One’s Self Those who do good, do so for the benefit of their own souls. Those who take Islam as their religion have no need to add or subtract anything to it or turn away from any part of it. Whoever adds an innovation or subtracts an obligation from Islam will not harm the religion in the least but will only bring about harm to himself.

“Whoever does good, does for his soul and whoever does evil is against his soul.” [Surah Fusilat: 46]

Those who practise anything that is not from Islam, whether it be a part of polytheism or an innovation in worship or knowledge, or abandon the understanding of the religion based on the understanding of the righteous predecessors (salaf), will lose the wisdom of Islam. The life of a Muslim should be filled with the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and his pursuits should be that which will benefit his knowledge, skills, and actions in this world and the hereafter. Doing Good Will Fetch You an Easy Life

“Whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will surely bless them with a good life, and We will certainly reward them according to the best of their deeds.” [Surah Nahl: 97]

Imam Dhahak said, “It means a good and permissible provision in life.” This is also the view of Ibn Abbas and Ali ibn Abi Talib. (See Ibn Kathir: Surah Nahl: 97) People who are stressed due to their sinking deep in the ocean of the materialistic world should add more good to their actions, which will grant them ease during troubled times. The Reward Of The Good Doers is Multiplied Allah has offered multiple rewards for a single good.

“Is the reward for good [anything] but good?” [Surah Ar-Rahman: 60]

Their rewards will be multiplied from ten to seven hundred times. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “When one of you practices Islam well, every good deed he does is written as ten good deeds up to seven hundred times as much, and every bad deed he does is written as one bad deed until he meets Allah.” (Bukhari & Muslim) Some of the rewards that he will be a recipient of are the following:

• Allah will give him a Palace in Paradise and Jannat al Firdaws.
• He will be given al Hoor (Heavenly Maidens).
• Neither dust nor darkness shall cover their faces, nor any humiliating disgrace
• The believers will not be humiliated internally or externally, but will be protected and honoured.
• There will be light on their faces and delight in their hearts.

Allah says,

“So Allah will protect them from the evil of that Day and give them radiance and happiness.” [Surah Al-Insan: 11]

Even a Small Good Deed Will be Appreciated by Allah and Will Lead to Paradise A good deed is never small. Perhaps a good deed that seems insignificant in your eyes might be the one that will tip the scale of your good deed and become your ticket to paradise. How? It’s as the Prophet (ﷺ) said,

“He saw a person enjoying himself in Paradise because of the tree that he cut from the path which was a source of inconvenience to the people.” (Muslim)

Good Deeds Wipe out Evil Deeds and Have the Capacity to prevent Evil There are many examples in the Qur’an stating that good deeds will cause the wiping out of wrong ones done by a person. It even helps build better relations, which is essential for survival in a society. Allah says,

“Repel evil with that which is good, and you will notice the person who was your harsh enemy will become your closest friend.” [Surah Fussilat: 34]

“Indeed prayer prevents you from obscenity and forbidden things.” [Surah al Ankabut: 45]

Good Manners in Speech is Also Declared Good by Allah Mutual conversation develops or damages prospects in relations, business, and other dealings. That is why good communication is encouraged, even if it is done with enemies or hardcore non- muslims. Allah says,

“And talk to people beautifully.” [Surah al Baqarah: 83]

“Tell My worshippers that they should speak with people in an excellent manner. [Surah Al Isra: 23]

 And argue with them in the ways that are most gracious.” [Surah Nahl: 125]

Allah Will Reward Them With Things that are Hidden from the Eyes Abu Hurayra reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said,

“Allah the Exalted and Glorious, says, ‘I have prepared for My pious servants which no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no human heart has ever perceived, but it is testified by the Book of Allah.’” He then recited, “No soul knows what comfort has been concealed from them, as a reward for what they do,” (Muslim)

They Will See Allah in Paradise The Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ) said,

“Do you have any difficulty in seeing the full moon when there is no cloud?” They said, “No, O Messenger of Allah.” He ﷺ said, “Do you have any difficulty in seeing the sun when there are no clouds?” They said, “No, O Messenger of Allah.” Then the Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily, you will see your Lord just as you see the full moon, and you will not need to crowd together to see Him.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Keeping People Safe from Your Tongue and Hand is from Goodness It has been related,

Allah’s Messenger was asked, “Messenger, of Allah, whose Islam is best?” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said, “One from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.” (Bukharii and Muslim)

Greeting People is From Goodness

Most of the Muslims are careless towards the greeting, not know that the virtue of these few words are precious. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Spread peace and you will receive peace.” (Musnad Aḥmad: 18059)

Allah has declared  that even replying to a greeting is Ihsan.

And when you are greeted, respond with a better greeting or at least similarly. [Surah Nisa’: 86]

Therefore do as much good as you can and you will find it with Allah when you meet Him.

Whatever good you do, you will find it with Allah.” [Surah al Baqarah: 110]