Do you know that there are simple acts that, while not widely known, are very dear to Allah? These acts can earn you immense rewards and make your life more beautiful.
In his lecture, Shaykh Ahmadullah highlights some of these crucial deeds that are essential for our daily lives.
1. Avoiding Harming Others
The beauty of Islam lies in its emphasis on not harming others. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The best Muslim is one from whose hand and tongue other Muslims are safe.” This means being a good Muslim is not just about performing acts of worship; it is equally important to ensure that your actions do not cause harm to anyone.
According to Shaykh Ahmadullah, unjustly harming someone is a major sin (Kabira Gunah). This sin cannot be forgiven by performing other good deeds alone. To be pardoned, one must seek forgiveness from Allah and, more importantly, from the person who was wronged.
2. Good Character Outweighs Optional Worship
Many believe that performing abundant optional (Nafl) prayers, fasting, or remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) is the only way to earn His favor. While these are indeed paths to divine closeness, Shaykh Ahmadullah states that a person becomes most valuable in the sight of Allah when they benefit others and strive to protect people from their own harm.
Quoting from Hadith, he explains that a person’s worth is defined not by their personal acts of worship but by their benevolent attitude toward humanity.
3. The Importance of Neighborly Rights
Not harming your neighbors is a fundamental teaching of Islam. Unfortunately, many of us are diligent in our worship but neglectful of our neighbors’ rights. The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned that no matter how much a person worships, if they harm their neighbor, they will go to hell.
In contrast, a person who performs their obligatory duties and refrains from causing harm to others is promised Paradise. This shows that social conduct is just as important as individual worship.
4. Small Mistakes, Major Sins
Shaykh Ahmadullah provides common examples from urban life that we often overlook, thinking they are minor issues, but are in fact sins:
- Littering: Throwing garbage indiscriminately pollutes the environment and inconveniences others. Even a small chip packet can block a drain and cause flooding.
- Making Loud Noise: Playing loud music or speaking loudly on the phone can irritate others. Even reciting the Quran loudly, if it disturbs someone else’s worship, is discouraged.
- Disrespectful Behavior: Treating a rickshaw puller or anyone else poorly, or driving on the sidewalk and causing trouble for pedestrians—these are all acts of wrongdoing.
5. The Need for Awareness and Responsibility
Many of us are aware of our rights but unaware of our duties. A true Muslim should be aware of both. If we realize we have caused the slightest inconvenience to someone through our actions or words, we must seek their forgiveness immediately. Shaykh Ahmadullah shared a personal example of how he tries to resolve any such issues promptly.
He highlights the concept of the ‘bankrupt person’ mentioned in Hadith, who arrives on the Day of Judgment with a mountain of good deeds, only to have them all taken away to compensate for the injustices they committed against others, leaving them to bear the sins of others.
Let us all pledge to ensure that no person, or even the smallest creature, is harmed by our actions. This awareness and sense of responsibility will make us dear to Allah.