The impact of good reward on individuals and the community

Individual impacts:

1- Knowing that Allah (may He be Exalted) observes our actions:

One of the greatest benefits of good reward on individuals in the world is knowing that Allah observes our actions in secret and in public, where a person recalls the greatness of his Lord and observing his actions, and His Favors over him. All these accustom a person to observe his actions, so he will obey his Creator and execute His Commands and avoid His Prohibition, and avoid His Wrath by avoiding His Prohibitions and approaching the things which he loves. By doing this, man is granted the fear of Allah (Glory be to Him) and reaches the stage of Ihsan where he worships Allah as if he sees Him. Whoever adheres to piety gets the high ranks from Allah (may He be Exalted); and the impact of piety on a believer is understood from Allah's saying (may He be Exalted) which means: "And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). * And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine."[1]

Thus a person lives in the shade of obedience, resorts to Him, and refers the whole matter to Allah (may He be Exalted), his heart feels comfort, his soul abates, and his insinuations are removed.

2- Knowing oneself:

Of these impacts is that retribution makes man know his real self and his status in this existence. In the beginning and at the end, he was created to Allah who created him in the best shape, and honored him over all His Creatures as He (Glorified and Exalted be He) told us: "And indeed We have honored the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At-Taiyibat (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preference."[2]

When man knows the reality of himself, he walks on his way with guidance and light from his Lord.

Accordingly, man feels his dignity and himself and feels that he has a value in this existence and that he has an end which he must fulfill.

Moreover, he shall realize that he has a message which he must deliver and he is just a tiny thing in this universe and that he is a distinguished creature from monkeys, animals, and insects and that he was not created in vain and was not given reason and speech randomly.[3]

3- Permanent work:

One of the most important features of reward in this world for individuals is a believer's approach to permanent work because he realizes the laws of Allah in this universe and that whoever performs a righteous work shall find its fruit in the world as Allah (may He be Exalted) says (which means "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)."[4]

This universal codes do not change or alter and the universal laws of Allah in this world do not differentiate between a believer and a disbeliever in retribution. So, whoever works shall be rewarded and whoever does not do shall be deprived regardless his religion or his belief, thus a believer always works so as not to clash with the universal laws of Allah and would be one of the perished.[5]

Social impacts:

1- Security and satisfaction:

One of the most important impacts of good reward on the society in this world is security and comfort where society individuals enjoy psychological and security with oneself as they enjoy satisfaction, for they are satisfied with themselves and about their place in life, satisfied with their Just and Most Merciful lord, satisfied with His Management and estimation as they feel the favors of Allah; so there is no wrath, anger, or annoyance. [6]

Allah (may He be Exalted) also says (which means): "And (when) it is said to those who are the Muttaqun (pious) What is it that your Lord has sent down? They say: That which is good. For those who do good in this world, there is good, and the home of the Hereafter will be better. And excellent indeed will be the home (i.e. Paradise) of the Muttaqun (pious)."[7] As man gets happiness in this world and in the Hereafter, happiness which many people search for without finding it except in this religion according to the people who embraced Islam, with reference to the real happiness which does not mean financial superiority, but the real happiness is found to those who adhere to Islam truly. The reality of people bears witness to that happiness for many people who are not Muslims feel spiritual vacuum and feel the loss of security and psychological stability. Allah (Glory be to Him) mentioned in His Glorious Book that those who have believed and followed His Way gain security, so He said (which means): "It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allâh), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided."[8]

With true faith comes security and assurance and with turning away dengue and misery take place. Allah (may He be Exalted) says (which means): "But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur'ân nor acts on its teachings.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection."[9]

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwâ (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they denied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes)."[10]

2- Optimism and bravery:

Likewise, from the impacts of good reward is that the individuals of society enjoy wide hope, glad tiding, and optimism; do not know despair, do not fear anyone, they do not know despair, and desperation does not know their door. [11]

They knew the subjugation of the universe to them, so they benefit therefrom; all these push them forward to activity and optimism. So, they resort to faith when they fear to feel secure and their faith and firmness, power and bravery increase and their fear decreased. Allah (may He be Exalted) says (which means): "Those (i.e. believers) to whom the people (hypocrites) said, "Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them." But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: Allâh (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)." [12]

Fear has escaped the hearts of those good people and was replaced by the power of faith, the power of relying on Allah, and confidence in Allah's Promise.

They resort to faith at obedience and when they do righteous actions to admit the favors of Allah and resort to faith if they were afflicted by sins by hastening to repentance and doing the righteous deeds which they can offer. Allah (may He be Exalted) says (which means): "Verily, those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious), when an evil thought comes to them from Shaitân (Satan), they remember (Allâh), and (indeed) they then see (aright)." [13]

The believers in all their fluctuations and behaviors depend on faith and exert efforts to achieve it and pushing away what contradicts it; and this is part of Allah's Favor.

3- Livelihood security:

Of the impacts of good reward on the society is achieving livelihood security and stability. Allah (may He be Exalted) explained that livelihood security with its real image is bound by adhering to his guidance and piety. Allah (Glory be to Him) says (which means): "And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwâ (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they denied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes)." [14]

Allah (Exalted be He) says (which means): "And if only the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) had believed (in Muhammad peace be upon him) and warded off evil (sin, ascribing partners to Allâh) and had become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious), We would indeed have expiated from them their sins and admitted them to Gardens of pleasure (in Paradise). * And if only they had acted according to the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord (the Quran), they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet. There are from among them people who are on the right course (i.e. they act on the revelation and believe in Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him like 'Abdullah bin Salam), but many of them do evil deeds. * O Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him)! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allâh will protect you from mankind. Verily, Allâh guides not the people who disbelieve." [15]

As for the infidels, all financial favors given to them is part of bringing gradually for them and accelerating good things for them in this world. They are favors to make them comfortable and happy which is harsher to them as Allah (may He be Exalted) says (which means): "So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened to them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them to punishment, and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows."[16] and differentiated between these favors and the favors given to the believers as these favors have no blessing: "We opened to them the gates of every (pleasant) thing." As for the favors given to the believers because of their faith, it is blessed. [17]

"Certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth." [18]

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[1] Surat At-Talaq: Ayah 2, 3.

[2] Surat Al Isra': Ayah 70.

[3] Faith and life by Al Qaradawy, p. 55, 56,13th edition 1423 AH, 2002, Maktabat Wahbah, Cairo.

[4] Surat An-Nahl: Ayah 97.

[5] Faith and life p. 296, the same reference.

[6] Faith, its reality and impact in oneself and on the society by Dr. Muhammad `Abdullah Ash-Sharqawy, p. 51, the second edition 1410 AH, 1990, published by Dar Al Jil, Beruit.

[7] Surat An-Nahl: Ayah 30.

[8] Surat Al An`am: Ayah 82.

[9] Surat Ta Ha, Ayah 124.

[10] Surat Al A`raf: Ayah 96.

[11] Faith by Dr. `Abdullah Ash-Sharqawy, p. 51.

[12] Surat Al `Imran: Ayah 173, 174.

[13] Surat Al A`raf: Ayah 201.

[14] Surat Al A`raf: Ayah 96.

[15] Surat Al Ma'idah: Ayah 65, 66.

[16] Surat Al An`am: Ayah 44.

[17] Application of the Islamic Shari`ah in KSA and its impacts in life, Dr. `Abdur-Rahman ibn Zayd, p. 478: 1999.

[18] Surat Al A`raf: Ayah 96.