Dearest deed to Allah Almighty

Dear Islamic brothers! On different occasions, the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم would ask the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ regarding the blessed deeds that are most beloved to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ would describe the superior deeds of the different people according to the situations and needs. Read the following few Ahadees in relation to similar kind of superior and beloved actions:

1. True intention

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has stated, ‘True intention is the most superior deed of all.’ (Jami’-ul-Ahadees, vol. 2, pp. 19, Hadees 3554)

‘Allamah ‘Abdur Ra`oof Manaawi رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ said: Since intention is always free from Riya Kari (showing off), therefore, intention never becomes invalid due to it. (Fayd-ul-Qadeer, vol. 2, pp. 57, Taht-al-Hadees 1284)

2. Deed dearest to Allah Almighty

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mas’ood رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ states that I asked the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ: Which deed is the dearest to Allah Almighty? He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ replied: ‘اَلصَّلاَۃُ عَلی وَقْتِہَا’ i.e. offering Salah in its time. I humbly asked: ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’ He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said: ‘ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَیْنِ’ i.e. to be good and dutiful to your parents. I humbly asked: ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’ He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ replied: ‘اَلْجِہَادُ فِی سَبِیلِ اللّٰہِ’ i.e. fighting in the path of Allah Almighty. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mas’ood رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ said that the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ told me these things. Had I asked more, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ would have told me more. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 196, Hadees 527)

Wisdom behind the sequence of the deeds mentioned in the Hadees

‘Allamah ‘Abdur Ra`oof Manaawi رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ has stated: Salah was mentioned before treating parents nicely because a person establishes connection with Allah Almighty in Salah; whereas, treating parents nicely involves a person dealing with the creation. It was better to mention what is more important first.

He رَحْمَةُ اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه further states: Jihad is mentioned at the end because patience upon offering Salah on time and serving parents frequently are such actions that are repetitive, and continue as long as one remains alive. Moreover, only Siddiqeen can observe patience over abiding by the commandments of Allah Almighty. (Fayd-ul-Qadeer, vol. 1, pp. 214, Taht-al-Hadees: 196; summarized)

3. Perform Sajdahs in abundance

One companion رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ asked the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ that ‘tell me about such a deed by which, Allah Almighty makes me enter the Paradise’, the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said: ‘عَلَیْکَ بِکَثْرَۃِ السُّجُودِ لِلّٰہِ’ i.e. make it necessary upon you to perform Sajdahs in abundance for the pleasure of Allah Almighty; because you will perform one Sajdah for Allah Almighty and He عَزَّوَجَلَّ will elevate your one rank and remove one sin. (Sahih Muslim, pp. 199, Hadees 1093)

Under this part of the blessed Hadees “make it necessary upon you to perform Sajdahs in abundance for the pleasure of Allah Almighty’, Hakeem-ul-Ummat Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ states, ‘In such a way that you offer more Nawafil and recite the Holy Quran in abundance. Moreover, you perform more Sajdahs of gratitude.’

Furthermore, in relation to the part ‘you will perform one Sajdah for Allah Almighty and He عَزَّوَجَلَّ will elevate your one rank and remove one sin’, he رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ states, ‘From this, we come to know that Sajdah is an expiation for sins. However, sins refer to the minor sins in relation to Huqooqullah [rights of Allah Almighty]. Huqooq-ul-Ibaad [rights of people] are only forgiven by paying their rights and major sins are forgiven only by repenting. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 2, pp. 85)

4. Most excellent struggle

Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Anas رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا said: I came in the blessed court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ and humbly asked, ‘When Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will grant you a place in the high-ranking status of Jannah, may [He عَزَّوَجَلَّ] bless me with your companionship.’ Moreover, she humbly asked, ‘O Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ! Tell me any such virtuous act which I could perform continuously.’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘Keep performing Salah because this is an Afdal (most excellent) struggle, keep abandoning the sins because this is an Afdal Hijrat (migration) and keep doing Zikrullah [Zikr of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ] abundantly because Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ loves this [blessed] act most that you address Him in this way.’ (Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabeer, vol. 25, pp. 149, Hadees 359)

Sayyiduna ‘Allamah ‘Abdur Ra`oof Manaawi رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ said: Salah has been said to be the Afdal struggle because this struggle is against the worst enemy. Abandoning sins is an Afdal Hijrat because there is more reward than migrating from Bilaad-e-Kufr [non-Muslim] countries to Bilaad-e-Islam (Islamic countries). (Fayd-ul-Qadeer, vol. 4, pp. 441, Taht-al-Hadees: 5505)

5. Patience and Samahat?

Sayyiduna ‘Ubadah Bin Saamit رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ narrated: A person humbly said in the blessed court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ, ‘O Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ! What is the most Afdal [excellent] deed?’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said: ‘اَلصَّبْرُ وَالسَّمَاحَۃُ’ Patience and Samahat. That person humbly said again, ‘Which act is more excellent than it?’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘It is that you do not commit Bad-Gumani (bad assumption) against Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in any matter of Taqdeer [destiny].’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 7, pp. 123, Hadees 9714)

What is patience and Samahat?

Sayyiduna Hasan Basri رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ has explained patience and Samahat in this way that patience refers to stop committing the acts which are made Haraam (strictly forbidden) by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and Samahat refers to carrying out the acts made Fard (obligatory) by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. (Jami’-ul-‘Uloom wal-Hikam, pp. 50)

6. Most beloved deed

A Badari blessed companion Sayyiduna Hakam [حکم] Bin ‘Umayr رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ narrated: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has stated, ‘The most beloved deed to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is to feed any hungry Miskeen (destitute) [person], pay off his debt or remove his sorrow.’ (Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabeer, vol. 3, pp. 218, Hadees 3187)

7. Three excellent deeds

When the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ was asked about the excellent deed, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said: ‘اِفْشَاءُ السَّلَامِ وَاِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ وَالصَّلَاةُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ’ to spread Salam, feed [the people] and performing Salah in the night when people are asleep. (Al-Mabsoot, vol. 15, pp. 303)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ enable us to carry out good deeds abundantly!

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

A saint stated: At the time of Sahari, I recited Surah Taahaa in my room. After I finished, I drowsed and saw that a person descended from the sky with a white-coloured register in his hand which he put in front of me. I saw that Surah Taahaa was written in it. Except for one Kalimah, ten virtues reward was written under all Kalimahs. When I felt the effect of it being erased after being written, I was grieved. Therefore, I said to the person, ‘By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! I had recited this Kalimah as well but neither it nor its reward is written here.’ The person replied: You are speaking the truth. You had really recited it and we had also written it but we heard someone calling out, ‘Erase it and also reduce its reward.’ Therefore, we erased it. Listening to it, I began to weep in my dream and asked, ‘Why did you do that?’ He replied, ‘While you were reciting, a person passed by you, so you recited aloud to impress him. Therefore, we erased it.’ (Qoot-ul-Quloob, vol. 1, pp. 112)

Dear Islamic brothers! There are some sins which can be committed only by body parts such as swearing at others by the tongue and watching indecent scenes with eyes, etc. And there are some other sins which not only can be committed by body parts but which can also affect the intention of a person, reducing the reward of the deed or ruining it. One of these sins includes ostentation or showing off. At times, ostentation affects the faith of a person, leading him to hypocrisy. And sometimes, it affects the intention of a person about his Fard deeds, depriving him of the reward. At times, it ruins the deeds such as Nafl Salah, Hajj, ‘Umrah, Sadaqah and charity.

Types of ostentation

In terms of ostentation being apparent or concealed, there are two types of it: Apparent ostentation and concealed ostentation. Apparent ostentation motivates a person to perform the deed. It is very clear and obvious ostentation, whereas concealed ostentation means hidden ostentation. (Az-Zawajir, vol. 1, pp. 81)

The Revered and Renowned Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘There is a type of ostentation that is hidden than even the movement of an ant. (Majma’-uz-Zawaid, vol. 10, pp. 384, Hadees 17669)

It is very difficult to refrain from concealed ostentation. Here is some detail of it:

1     A bondman finds it easy to perform the deed due to ostentation. For example, he feels unwilling to give donation but when he is with his friend etc., he gives donation wholeheartedly in order to impress his friend.

2     He feels happy when people become aware of the acts of worship he performs.

3     Although he does not feel happy at heart, yet he hopes in return for his deed that people will respect, revere and praise him, and that they will do his work. In order to get further information about ostentation, read the 164-page book ‘Showing-off’ published by Maktaba-tul-Madinah.