Righteous Deeds

True Tawbah is not only expressed in feelings from the heart and words on the lips but also in the penitent individual’s actions. He should be driven by his desire for absolution to correct whatever wrong he has done and make amends. Allah promises to pardon those who are so inclined. “If any of you does evil in ignorance, then repents and makes amends, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Soorah al-An’aam, 6:54).

If the truth were sinfully concealed or lies disseminated to others, repentance must be accompanied by an open declaration of the truth for it to be valid. In reference to those who hid knowledge about Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and Islam which was contained within the scriptures of the Old and New Testament[1], Allah pronounces His curse on them, as well as the curse of the angels and all mankind, with the following exceptions: “Except those who repent, make amends and openly declare (the truth); those I will forgive, for I am the Oft-Returning, the Most Merciful” (Soorah al-Baqarah, 2: 160).

Real Tawbah will not only cause the wrongdoer to renounce the sin from which he is seeking absolution, but it should also motivate him to voluntarily perform additional deeds of righteousness. The spiritual change which takes place during true repentance should be translated into righteous actions as a positive replacement in the soul for the iniquity which it has abandoned. Because of the importance of good deeds to the process of repentance, Allah has included it among the conditions for pardon and release from the consequences of sin. Allah emphatically states in the Final Revelation that “Whoever repents and does good has truly repented to Allah” (Soorah Al-Furqaan, 25:71).

 “Surely I will repeatedly forgive those who repent, believe and do righteous deeds, and then accept right guidance” (Soorah Ta-Ha, 20:82).

For example, the acceptance of Islam is an act of repentance wherein one turns from a life of error to the clear path of God. However, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) explained that the declaration of faith erases all previous sins only if it is followed up by good deeds as prescribed by Allah, otherwise the convert is still held to account for earlier sins.

Abdullah ibn Masoud said “Some people asked Allah’s Messenger ‘O Messenger of Allah! Will we be held responsible for what we did during the Jaahileeyah (time of ignorance before embracing Islam)?’ He replied ‘Whoever does good deeds in Islam will not be held to account, but one who does evil will be accountable for the time before Islam and after’.” (Reported by Sahih Muslim vol.1 pp.68-9 nos.217 & 218).

Furthermore Allah promises to reward those who repent and do righteous deeds with additional good in place of their past evil deeds and grant them on top of that paradise as their ultimate reward. Allah says “Except those who repent, believe and do righteous deeds; those are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will replace with good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Soorah Furqaan 25:70).

“Except those who repent, believe and do righteous deeds; those are the ones who will enter paradise without being wronged in the least” (Soorah Mariam 19:60).

Without such a positive transformation the sinner’s sorrow and regret may merely lead him into a state of extreme depression. In this weakened condition he then becomes susceptible once again to the whisperings and prodding of the devils from within and without. And ultimately the forces of evil may cause him to fall into further transgression. Therefore the sincerely repentant should deliberately seek out all possible avenues of righteousness to avail himself of Allah’s Grace whereby He has vastly multiplied the value of good deeds. Allah said in the Qur’an “Whoever does a good deed will have the reward of ten, while he who does a sin will only be recompensed likewise and they will not be wronged” (Soorah al-An’aam 6:160). Abu Hurayrah quoted Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) as saying “Whoever intends to do good but does not do it has one good deed recorded for him. If he intends to do good and does it, ten to seven hundred good deeds are recorded for him. While he who intends to do evil, but does not, no entry is recorded. If he does it, then it is recorded” (Sahih al-Bukhari vol.8 p.329 no.499 and Sahih Muslim vol.1 pp.75-6 no.237).

This divine favour of increase in the effect of righteous deeds gracefully helps man erase his many sins if he acts wisely. Allah says in the Final Revelation “Verily good deeds erase evil deeds. This is a reminder for those who remember (their Lord)” (Soorah Hood 11:114). The Prophet (Peace be upon him) was also reported to have said “Fear Allah wherever you may be, follow an evil deed with a good one and it will erase it, and treat people well”[2].

By following such a path the chances of earning God’s forgiveness will be greatly improved according to the Final Scripture: “But whoever does wrong and substitutes good in place of evil, truly I am Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Soorah an-Naml 27:11). Allah has also seen fit to make the major righteous deeds enjoined on the believers a source of expiation for sins. Because these foundational pillars of Islam are designed to train the believer in righteousness, when they are performed according to both the letter and the spirit of the law, they become good deeds of the highest order capable of cleansing the true believers of many of their sins.

Wudoo (Ablution): Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said “When a servant (of God) washes his face, every sin he contemplated with his eyes will be washed away along with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they committed will be washed off from his hands with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet have walked will be washed away with the last drop of water, so that he comes out pure from all sins” (Reported by Sahih Muslim vol.1 p.155 no.475).

Salah (Formal Prayer): Humraan reported on the authority of Uthman ibn Affaan that he heard Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) say “The obligatory prayers of the one who properly performed Wudoo (ablution) as Allah the Exalted enjoined on him will be an expiation for sins[3] committed between them” (Reported by Sahih Muslim vo.1 p.151 no.445).

Salatul-Jumu’ah (Friday Congregational Prayer): Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said “If anyone performs Wudoo well, then comes to the Friday prayer, listens and keeps silent, his sins between then and the next Jumu’ah plus those of three extra days will be forgiven. But he who plays with pebbles has caused an interruption [4]” [5].

Laylatul-Qadr (Night of Power: Abu Hurayrah related that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said “All the previous sins of any one who gets up for prayer during the Night of Power (Laylatul-Qadr)[6] out of faith and seeking his reward from the Lord will be forgiven” (Reported by Sahih al-Bukhari vol.3 pp.69-70 no.125).

Sawm (Fasting):  Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said “All the previous sins of any one who fasts the month of Ramadan out of faith and seeking his reward from the Lord will be forgiven” (Reported by Sahih al-Bukhari vol.3 p.70 no.125).

Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah): Abu Hurayrah stated that Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said “Whoever makes pilgrimage to this House (Ka’bah) and does not have sexual relations with his wife nor commit sins (during the Hajj) will return (sinless) the way his mother bore him” (Reported by Sahih al-Bukhari vol.3 p.27 nos. 45 & 46).

Umrah (Minor Pilgrimage): Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said “The sins done between two Umrahs are expiated by them” (Reported by Sahih al-Bukhari vol.3 p.1 no.1, Muwatta Imam Malik p.158 no.756).