On the righteous deeds that Allah rewards in this world

First Sermon

All praise is due to Allah, the Most Generous, the Bestower of favours. He hastens the reward for His righteous servants. I bear witness that there is no deity save Allah, having no associates. I also bear witness that our Master and Prophet Muhammad is the Servant of Allah and His Messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Master Muhammad, his family and all of his companions, and all those who follow them till the Day of Judgment.

As to what follows,

I urge you and myself, O Servants of Allah, to be aware that you are asked to obey Him the Most Exalted and Sublime, in line with His orders, “and whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect.” (At-Talaq: 2-3). Indeed, by being conscious of Allah the Almighty, the believers will attain increased provisions and their affairs will be facilitated. The Exalted is He says, “and whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease.” (At-Talaq: 4). Mindfulness of Allah the Almighty is also a cause for forgiving misdeeds and earning rewards in multiples. Allah the Almighty says, “and whoever fears Allah - He will remove for him his misdeeds and make great for him his reward.” (At-Talaq: 5).

O Worshipers,

It is good to know that Allah the Almighty rewards His righteous servants for their good deeds in this worldly life in addition to the great recompense that He prepares for them in the Hereafter. To this, the Almighty says, “whoever desires the reward of this world - then with Allah is the reward of this world and the Hereafter. And ever is Allah Hearing and Seeing.” (An-Nisaa: 134). On the same matter, the Messenger of Allah pbuh said, “Verily, Allah does not treat a believer unjustly in regard to his virtues. He would confer upon him (His blessing) in this world and would give him reward in the Hereafter.”

So, the rewards of Allah the Almighty would be a source of happiness for the believer in this world and on the Day of Judgment. The Exalted is He says, “whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life.” (An-Nahl: 97).

Knowing that, it is good to advise each other on the deeds that Allah the Almighty hastens its reward in this life. Amongst the greatest of such deeds that are rewarded in this world are belief in Allah and performing righteous deeds. These deeds are really conducive to place affection for their doers in the hearts of people. Allah the Almighty illustrates this in this noble Aya, “indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.” (Mariam: 96). That is to say: will appoint for them affection in the hearts of people.  

In interpretation of this Aya, some scholars suggested: A servant of Allah will never be sincere to Allah, the Most Exalted, in his heart except that Allah would place acceptance to him in the hearts of the believers, until He blesses him with their fondness and mercy.

In this context, amongst the rewards of true belief and good deeds that the believer attains in this world is that Allah the Almighty answers their supplications. On this account, the Almighty says, “and He answers [the supplication of] those who have believed and done righteous deeds and increases [for] them from His bounty.” (Ash-Shoora: 26). This means, not only the Most High responds to their prayers, but also increases them from His favours. As such, He grants them from the bounties of this world that which they have not asked for. This is because He is Subtle with them and the arranger of their matters.

Another favour that Allah, the Most Giving, endows upon the believer in this world in return of their righteous deeds is the peace of mind and stable conditions of life. The Most Exalted says, “and those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon Muhammad - and it is the truth from their Lord - He will remove from them their misdeeds and amend their condition.” (Muhammad: 2).

O Believers,

Please also know that those who are sincerely devoted to their Lord in all that they do, will, definitely, attain the protection of Allah the Almighty at times of distress. The Messenger of Allah pbuh said in this regard, “While three men were walking, it started raining and they took shelter (refuge) in a cave in a mountain. A big rock rolled down from the mountain and closed the mouth of the cave. They said to each other, ‘Think of good deeds which you did for Allah’s sake only, and invoke Allah by giving reference to those deeds so that He may remove this rock from you’.” So, each one of them invoked Allah by giving a reference to righteous deeds that they did for Allah’s sake, and Allah removed the rock from the cave.

Furthermore, offering Nawafil (voluntary prayers) frequently is amongst the good deeds for which the believer is granted the love, care and protection of Allah in this world. The Messenger of Allah pbuh accentuated this as he said, “and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge).”

Seeking forgiveness from Allah the Almighty is another righteous deed that is conducive to bring the favours of Allah in abundance. It is a cause of sending the rain from the sky, granting offspring, and increasing wealth and blessings. An illustration of this can be seen in the following Aya in which Allah the Almighty describes Noah pbuh saying, “and said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers and give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.”(Noah: 10-12).

O Servants of Allah,

On another level, modesty is amongst the qualities that may bring high and noble standing to the human being in this world. Our Master Muhammad pbuh said in this regard, “no one will humble himself for Allah’s sake except that Allah raises his status.” That is to say: Allah the Most Exalted will raise his status in this world, make a firm standing for him in people’s heart and grant him a reputable rank amongst them. 

One other righteous deed that Allah hastens to reward its doer in this life is spending in charity. Allah the Almighty says, “but whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers.” (Sabaa: 39). On the same matter, the Prophet pbuh said, “Allah the Exalted and High said: Allah said, ‘O son of Adam! Spend, and I shall spend on you’.” Indeed, spending in charitable causes is a means of expanding one’s provision in multiples, for the Most Exalted says, “the example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.”  (Al-Baqara: 261).

O Seekers of reward in this world and the Hereafter,

Please know that being dutiful to parents and maintaining good ties of kinship are amongst the good deeds that Allah, the Most Gracious, rewards in this world. He increases their doers in provision and bless them in their lifetime. The Messenger of Allah pbuh said, “Whoever likes to have his lifetime elongated and his provision increased then let him be dutiful to his parents and keep good ties of kinship.”

One more righteous deed that is conducive to help the believer to attain Allah’s support in this life is treating others in kindness and extending a helping hand to them. The Messenger of Allah pbuh said in this regard, “And Allah will remain in the aid of a servant so long as the servant remains in the aid of his brother (Muslim).” He also said, “Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfil his needs.”

Bearing this in mind, let us seek Allah’s favour to guide us all to the best of words and deeds. O Allah, please grant that we embrace the finest of manners and qualities and make us beneficial to people. O Lord, please also make us amongst those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip [others] therein.

May Allah guide us all to obey Him and obey His Messenger Muhammad pbuh and obey those He has commanded us to obey in line with His orders: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority amongst you.” (An-Nisaa: 59).

May Allah direct us all to the blessings of the Glorious Quran and the Sunna of His Messenger pbuh.

I say this and ask Allah for forgiveness for me and you, so invoke Him for forgiveness, for He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Second Sermon

All praise is due to Allah as befitting to His Sublime Countenance and Supreme Status. I bear witness that there is no deity save Allah, having no associates. I also bear witness that our Master Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon ou­­r Master Muhammad, his pure family, companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness till the Day of Judgment.

I urge you, O Servants of Allah, and myself to be aware that you are asked to obey Him, the Most Exalted and Sublime.

O Worshipers,

Please bear in mind that when the Muslim perfects their acts of worship and show lenience and mercy in their dealings with others, then Allah the Almighty will grant them in this world from His great favours in abundance. The Most Exalted will also reward them for their good deeds on the Day of Judgment. In this context, Allah the Almighty says, “for those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better.” (An-Nahl: 30). This means, whoever perfected his good deeds in this world, Allah will show him kindness in this world and the Hereafter. For this reason, the righteous servants of Allah would supplicate to the Most Exalted saying, “and decree for us in this world [that which is] good.” (Al-Aaraf: 156). The righteous believers would also supplicate to the Almighty saying, “our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Al-Baqara: 201).