Learn about hadith on good deeds, shedding light on the profound teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Keep reading to discover these beautiful acts of kindness!
Uncover hadiths from the Prophet PBUH to understand the depth and essence of the meaning of good deeds.
Islam emphasizes not just on material gains, but on the spiritual blessings, growth, and contentment they bring.
Enhance your understanding and practice of these timeless and invaluable hadith on good deeds.
HADITH ON GOOD DEEDS
1. Intention
Arabic:
عن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى، فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ لِدُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ يَنْكِحُهَا، فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ
Transliteration:
An 'Umar ibn al-Khattab radiyallahu 'anhu qal: Sami'tu Rasool Allahi sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam yaqool: 'Innama al-a'malu binniyat, wa innama li kulli imri'in ma nawa. Faman kanat hijratuhu ila Allahi wa rasoolihi, fahijratuhu ila Allahi wa rasoolihi, wa man kanat hijratuhu lidunya yusibuha awi imra'atan yankihuha, fahijratuhu ila ma hajara ilayhi.
Translation:
Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA): I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "Verily, the reward of deeds depends upon the intentions, and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So, whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger, then his emigration is for Allah and His Messenger. And whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or to marry a woman, then his emigration is for what he emigrated for.
This hadith emphasizes the importance of intentions behind our actions. It tells us that the value and reward of our deeds are not just based on the outward action but are deeply rooted in the intention behind them. This means that two people might perform the same action, but the one with a sincere intention for the sake of Allah will be rewarded, while the other with a worldly or insincere intention might not receive the same reward. The hadith guides Muslims to always keep their intentions pure and for the sake of Allah when doing any good deed.
2. Character
Arabic:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: المسلم من سلم المسلمون من لسانه ويده
Transliteration:
An Abi Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu qal: qala Rasool Allahi sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam: Al-muslimu man salima al-muslimuna min lisanihi wa yadih.
Translation:
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands the Muslims are safe.
This hadith emphasizes the essence of true Muslim character, highlighting that a genuine Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are safe. It underscores the importance of both verbal and physical non-harmfulness. A true believer should refrain from speaking ill of or causing physical harm to fellow believers. In essence, it underscores the principles of peace, harmony, and mutual respect within the Muslim community.
3. Service
Arabic:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: خَيْرُ النَّاسِ أَنْفَعُهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ
Transliteration:
An Abi Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu qal: qala Rasool Allahi sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam: Khayru an-nasi anfa'uhum lin-nas.
Translation:
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The best of people are those who are most beneficial to others.
This hadith conveys the significance of selflessness and serving others. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasizes that the best among people are those who are most beneficial to others. It teaches that true virtue is not measured by personal piety alone but also by the positive impact one has on the lives of others. By highlighting the value of service, it encourages believers to actively seek ways to benefit their communities and humanity at large.
4. Kindness
Arabic:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: تَبَسُّمُكَ فِي وَجْهِ أَخِيكَ صَدَقَةٌ
Transliteration:
An Abi Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu qal: qala Rasool Allahi sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam: Tabassumuka fi wajhi akhika sadaqah.
Translation:
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Your smile in the face of your brother is charity.
This hadith beautifully highlights the simplicity yet profound impact of kind gestures in daily life. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) signifies that even a smile towards your fellow Muslim brother is considered an act of charity. It emphasizes that acts of goodwill don't always require materialistic offerings; sometimes, a genuine smile can bring joy and comfort to another, serving as a form of benevolence. The teaching encourages spreading positivity and kindness in seemingly small yet meaningful ways within the community.
5. Trustworthiness
Arabic:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: المُؤْمِنُ مَنْ أَمِنَهُ النَّاسُ عَلَى دِمَائِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ
Transliteration:
An Abi Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu qal: qala Rasool Allahi sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam: Al-mu'minu man aminahu an-nasu 'ala dima'ihim wa amwalihim.
Translation:
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The believer is the one from whom people's lives and wealth are safe.
This hadith sheds light on the core attributes of a true believer. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) defines a believer as someone whom others can trust regarding their lives (blood) and their property. It emphasizes the foundational principles of trustworthiness and reliability in Islam. For a Muslim to be considered a true believer, he or she should embody safety and security for others, ensuring that no harm comes to them either physically or with respect to their possessions. This teaching instills the values of trust, responsibility, and respect for the rights of others in the community.
6. Kindness as Charity
Arabic:
عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: الْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ
Transliteration:
An Anas bin Malik radhiyallahu 'anhu qal: qala Rasool Allahi sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam: Al-kalimatu t-tayyibatu sadaqah.
Translation:
Narrated Anas bin Malik (RA): The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "A good word is charity.
This hadith underscores the profound value and impact of good speech. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) equates uttering a kind word to performing an act of charity. This teaching serves as a reminder that positive words, whether in the form of encouragement, consolation, or mere kindness, can have a charitable effect on the receiver. It accentuates that, in Islam, charity is not limited to tangible acts or monetary offerings; even our speech can become an act of generosity when used benevolently.
7. Restraint
Arabic:
ن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليقل خيرًا أو ليصمت.
Transliteration:
An Abi Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu qal: qala Rasool Allahi sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam: Man kana yu'minu billahi wal-yawmi al-akhir fal yaqul khairan aw liyasmut.
Translation:
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.
This hadith imparts a crucial lesson on the importance of speech and its implications. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) guides those who believe in Allah and the Day of Judgment to either speak what is good or remain silent. The teaching underscores the principle that words have weight, and believers should be cautious, ensuring they utter only what is beneficial and righteous. If in doubt about the goodness or potential harm of what they might say, it is wiser to choose silence. It's a potent reminder of the virtues of restraint and the conscious use of speech in daily life.
8. Legacy
Arabic:
عن أبي دهمة السعدي قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إِذَا مَاتَ الإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلاثٍ: صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ
Transliteration:
An Abi Dahma al-Sa'idi qal: qala Rasool Allahi sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam: Itha maat al-insanu inqata'a 'anhu 'amaluhu illa min thalath: sadaqatin jariyah, aw 'ilmin yuntafa'u bihi, aw waladin salihin yad'oo lahu.
Translation:
Narrated Abi Dahma al-Sa'idi: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.
This hadith elucidates the lasting impact of certain deeds even after a person's departure from this world. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) conveys that while most of a person's deeds cease with their death, three specific actions continue to benefit them: a perpetual charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), beneficial knowledge they've imparted, and a righteous child who prays for them. These deeds create a legacy that continues to earn rewards for the deceased. This teaching encourages believers to invest in long-lasting and beneficial acts, ensuring that their good impact persists even after they have left this temporal realm.
9. Neighbourliness
Arabic:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: وَاللَّهِ لَا يُؤْمِنُ، وَاللَّهِ لَا يُؤْمِنُ، وَاللَّهِ لَا يُؤْمِنُ. قِيلَ: وَمَنْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: مَنْ لَا يَأْمَنُ جَارُهُ بَوَائِقَهُ.
Transliteration:
An Abi Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu qal: qala Rasool Allahi sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam: Wallahi la yu'minu, wallahi la yu'minu, wallahi la yu'minu. Qila: Wa man ya Rasool Allah? Qala: Man la yamanu jaruhu bawa'iqah.
Translation:
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said three times, "By Allah, he does not believe." It was asked, "Who, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "The one whose neighbour does not feel safe from his harm.
In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasizes the paramount importance of being trustworthy and ensuring the safety of one's neighbours. He ardently states, by taking an oath on Allah's name thrice, that one cannot be a true believer if their neighbour is not safe from harm. The repetition serves to stress the weight of the message. The term "bawa'iq" typically refers to harm or nuisance. This teaching underscores the principle that true faith in Islam is not just about personal piety, but also about how one treats their neighbours, promoting harmony, trust, and security within the community.
The hadith on good deeds" illuminate the essence of kindness and righteousness in Islam.
As teachings from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), they highlight even simple acts, intentions, and words can be profound acts of kindness.
These hadiths serve as guides to nurturing both individual spirituality and a community rooted in love and compassion.