Reward of the Righteous Deed in this Life & in the Hereafter
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
(Friday speech delivered by Imam Mohamed Baianonie at the Islamic Center or Raleigh, NC on July 7, 2000)
Allah (S.W.T) said in surat An-Nahl, (Verse 97), what can be translated as, "Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer, verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world) with respect, and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do."
Imam Ibn Katheer says: "In this great verse, there is a promise from Allah (S.W.T.) – and He does not break his promise - for everyone, man or woman, who does a good deed and whose heart is believing in Allah and His Messenger. Allah (S.W.T.) promises to give good life for such a person in this life as a quick reward for the righteous deed. Allah (S.W.T.) also promises to give more rewards to this person in the Hereafter.
The good life in this life as promised by Allah (S.W.T.) comprises all aspects of comfort including Halal Rizq, self-satisfaction, happiness, and contentment.
The prophet (S.A.W.) says: "He Who submitted himself to Allah (S.W.T.), and is provided enough sustenance, and Allah (S.W.T.) made him content with what He gave him, he indeed succeeded."
{Authentic Hadith reported by Imams At-Trmithi and Ahmad}.
And also Imam Muslim reported that, the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said :" Allah does not deal unjustly with a believer about a good deed because he is given blessings for it in the Hereafter; but the disbeliever is given in the world the reward for good deeds, he has performed and when he comes to the Hereafter, there is no good deed for which he can be rewarded."
What are the righteous deeds?
"The righteous deeds include every thing that Allah (S.W.T.) loves and accepts from sayings and the physical acts; the hidden (acts by heart) and the openly (acts by limbs).
The acts by heart include the love for Allah and His messenger, fear of Allah, asking Him for forgiveness, Having sincerity to Him alone in deen, being patient, thanking for His blessings, accepting His judgment, depending on Him, hoping for His mercy, fear of His punishment, and all things of this nature are the righteousness."
The acts by limbs include saying "La Elaha Ellalaah Muhamadun Raswolullah", prayers, zakah, fasting, hajj, straight talk, loyalty (returning someone’s possessions to them), kindness with parents, having good accord with relatives, keeping promises and treaties, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, Jihad in the cause of Allah, learning, teaching, kindness with the neighbor, with the orphan, with the poor, with the wayfarer, with the animals, supplication, remembering Allah and reciting Qur’an."
What are the necessary conditions for the righteous deeds to be accepted?
Every righteous deed must meet two conditions to be accepted by Allah (S.W.T.):
The first is sincerity. This is achieved when the righteous is for the sake of Allah (S.W.T.) alone.
The second is following the prophet (S.A.W.). This is achieved when the righteous deeds are done exactly as prescribed by the prophet (S.A.W.). If these two conditions are met, the righteous deed will be accepted by Allah (S.W.T.). In this case, the doer of righteous deeds will deserve the reward in this life and in the Hereafter as promised by Allah (S.W.T.).
The immediate reward in this life can be manifested in the following:
The guidance and coming out of the darkness of (Falsehood) into the light of (Truth). Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Yunus, (Verse 9), what can be translated as, "Verily, those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, their Lord will guide them by their faith…"
And also Allah (S.W.T) said in surat At-Talaq, (Verse 11), what can be translated as, "…that He may take out, those who believe and do righteous good deed from the darkness to the light…"
Love for them from Allah (S.W.T.) and in the hearts of the believers Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Maryam, (Verse 96), what can be translated as, " Verily, those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, the Most Beneficent will bestow love for them (in the hearts of the believers)."
And also Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that, the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: "If Allah love person,
He calls Jibriael (Gabriel) saying: Allah love so and so; O Jibriael love him. Jibriael would love him, and then Jibriael would make an announcement among the resident of the heavens, Allah loves so and so, therefore, you should love him also. So, all the resident of the heavens would love him and he is granted the pleasure of the people of the earth."
Wiping away their bad deeds. Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Al-Ankabut, (Verse 7), what can be translated as, " Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, surly, We shall remit from them their evil deeds and shall reward them according to the best of that which they used to do."
Allah’s protection and good care. In the Qudsi (Holy) Hadith, reported by Imams Bukhari and Muslim that, the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: "Allah (S.W.T.) said:…My servant countess to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with he walks…"
And Also, Allah (S.W.T.) will protect the children of the good doers. The Qur’an has told us how Allah (S.W.T.) protected the treasure that was under the destroyed wall of two orphan villagers in the city because of their righteous parents. The renovation was from the duties of Al-Khudr and Mousa (S.A.W.).
{Story in surat Al-Kahf}
Finding good ways and sustenance where they are not expected. Allah (S.W.T) said in surat At-Talaq, (Verses 2&3), what can be translated as, "…And whosoever fears Allah 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."
And also Allah (S.W.T) said in surat At-Talaq, (Verse 4), what can be translated as, "… And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him."
Empowering them on earth and making them feel secure and at peace after fright and fear. Allah (S.W.T) said in surat An-Noor, (Verse 55), what can be translated as, "Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, that He will certainly grant them succession to in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and He will grant them the authority to practice their deen, that which He has chosen for them. And He will surly give them in exchange a safe security after their fear…"
The reward of righteous deed is also given in the Hereafter.
It is a great reward that no one knows its limit except Allah (S.W.T.). Many Qra'nic verses and authentic Ahadith declared that. The great reward is eternal bliss and happiness in Paradise: Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Al-Baqarh, (Verse 25), what can be translated as, "And give glad tidings to those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, that for them will be Paradises under which rivers flow…and they shall have therein purified wives, and they will abide therein forever."
And also Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Taha, (Verses 75 &76), what can be translated as, "But whoever come to Him as believer, and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter), and Paradise under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever…"
So, we should all do good deeds and make sure that our good deeds meet all the necessary conditions to gain the acceptance of Allah (S.W.T.). This way, we get the reward in this life and in the Hereafter. We ask Allah (S.W.T.) to help us do what he loves and pleased with and that he accepts our good deeds and rewards us with his mercy and blessings.
Source: http://islam1.org/iar/imam/archives/..._hereafter.php