Good deeds and bad deeds

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) says:  The person who feeds a Muslim brother to his heart’s content, Allah Most High will keep this person at a distance of 7 moats.  Each moat will be 500 years of distance away from each other.

 

Hadhrat Hasan Basri (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:  Whatever a Muslim eats or drinks, he (or she) will be asked to account for it on the Day of Judgment, but for the food given to a needy person there will be no reckoning.

 

Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) says:  Giving a small quantity of food to a needy person is better than freeing a slave.  Hadhrat Salman Farsi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told us:  Don’t be shy!  Don’t hesitate in serving it to the guest whatever is there.

 

The Companions would serve a piece of bread and dry dates to each other and would say:  We can’t say whether the person who thinks whatever is present to be unworthy and doesn’t present it to the guest is sinner or that person is a sinner who is presented whatever is present and deems it to be lowly.

 

In the previous times, if Muslims would be guided to perform good deeds, they would spend something in the path of Allah as a form of thankfulness for it and wouldn’t have any expectations from the people for this good deed.

 

One Shaykh went to a market.  He had to buy something.  He asked the price.  The shopkeeper said:  Its price is 4 pies, but you are a Shaykh.  For you I will charge 3 pies.  The Shaykh cried like anything on hearing this that my honor is only worth 1 pie.  He said:  I don’t sell my religion.  I didn’t acquire honor to reap the benefit of this world.

 

The Prophets (May peace be upon them) would say:  We don’t seek any return from you for this.

 

Nowadays Muslims participate in the festivals of the non-Muslims and include them in our festivals.  This is similar to what the idolaters of Arabia told the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):  You accept our religion for 1 year and we will accept your religion for the next year.  Then this verse of the Holy Quran was revealed (the verses of Surah Kafiroon).  Some Muslim leaders garland the idols in public for political reasons!  This act of theirs leads to polytheism and apostasy.  It is necessary to avoid these things.  It is mentioned in the Hadith:  When Imamate and leadership is given to unfit people, then just wait for the Day of Judgment.

 

[Excerpted from Mawaaiz-e-Hasana, Vol. 2]