Definition and Significance of Good Works (aṣ-Ṣāliḥāt) in Islam
Good Works, known in Arabic as aṣ-Ṣāliḥāt (الـصـالحات), hold a significant place in Islamic theology and practice. According to Islamic teachings, good works are actions that contribute to moral and ethical behavior, helping others, and fulfilling religious obligations. They are seen as vital to a righteous life and are frequently mentioned alongside faith (īmān) in the Qur’an.
Etymology
The term aṣ-Ṣāliḥāt (الـصـالحات) derives from the Arabic root ṣ-l-ḥ (صلح), which means “to be righteous” or “to be correct.” The root word is associated with actions that aim to rectify, improve, or maintain harmony and goodness in society.
Teachings from the Qur’an
The Qur’an emphasizes that good works, in the absence of faith, do not secure salvation from the torments of Hell. This is highlighted in Surah Al-Kahf (Chapter 18), Ayat 103–105:
<p>“Shall we tell you who are they that have lost their labor most; whose efforts in the present life have been mistaken, and who deemed that what they did was right? They are those who believed not in the signs of the Lord, or that they should ever meet Him. Vain, therefore, are their works; and no weight will we allow them on the Day of Resurrection.”</p>
Faith, in this context, refers specifically to the belief in the mission of Prophet Muhammad and the unquestionable acceptance of his teachings.
Teachings from Hadith
Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, as recorded in various Hadith collections, provide extensive guidance on the importance and reward of performing good deeds. One notable source is the Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, which outlines the Prophet’s teachings on this subject in Book X, Chapter III:
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Forgiveness and Reward Multiplication:
<p>“When a man is brought to Islam and he performs it well, God covers all his former sins, and he gets ten rewards for every good act, up to seven hundred, and even more than that, whereas the reward of misdeeds is as one to one, unless God passes that over likewise.”</p>
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Conditions for Accountability:
<p>“There are three persons whose actions are not written: one a person asleep until he awakes; the second, a boy not arrived at puberty; the third, a madman until he recovers his reason.”</p>
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Measurement of Intentions and Actions:
<p>“Verily, God recordeth both the good deeds and the evil deeds. He who has proposed to do evil and did not do it, for him God recordeth one perfectly good deed. And he who intended to do good and put his intentions into practice, for him God recordeth from ten to seven hundred good deeds (according to their merits). And he who intended to do evil but did it not, God recordeth one good act; but he who intendeth to do evil and doeth it, for him God recordeth one evil deed.”</p>
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Symbolic Example of Armor:
<p>“Verily, the condition of that person who does evil and after that good deeds, is like the condition of a man with tight armor on, which has troubled him. He does one good deed and the rings of the armor become open. He does another good deed, and the armor falls from his body.”</p>
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Parables of Past Righteous Individuals:
<p>“Verily there was a man amongst those who were before you to whom the angel of death came to take his soul, and he was asked ‘Have you done any good act?’ He said in answer, ‘I do not remember that I have done any good.’ It was said to him, ‘Look well into yourself, and consider if you have done any good work.’ He said, ‘I do not find any good in myself, except that I used to buy and sell in the world and used to claim my right from the rich, but allowed them their leisure to pay me when they liked, and I forgave the poor.’ Then God brought that man into paradise.”</p>
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Acts of Mercy:
<p>“An adulteress was forgiven, who passed by a dog at a well, and the dog was holding out his tongue from thirst, which was near killing him. The woman drew off her boot and tied it to the end of her veil, and drew water for the dog, and gave him to drink, and she was forgiven on account of that act."</p>
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Daily Benevolence:
<p>“Your smiling in your brother’s face is alms; and your exhorting mankind to virtuous deeds is alms; and your prohibiting the forbidden is alms; and your showing men the road when they lose it is alms; and your assisting the blind is alms; and your removing stones, thorns, and bones, which are inconvenient to man is alms; and your pouring water from your bucket into that of your brother is alms for you.”</p>
Recommended Books for Further Study
- “Al-Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ” (Various Hadith Compilations)
- “The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary” by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
- “The Book of Assistance” by Imam Abdallah ibn Alawi al-Haddad
- “Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart” by Hamza Yusuf
- “Islamic Ethics of Life: Abortion, War, and Euthanasia” edited by Jonathan E. Brockopp
Takeaways and Conclusion
- Good works (aṣ-Ṣāliḥāt) in Islam are intrinsically tied to faith and are essential for spiritual growth and salvation.
- Intentions behind actions are critically evaluated and rewarded or judged by God.
- Prophet Muhammad emphasized continuous acts of mercy and everyday virtues as crucial to Islamic practice.
- Both the Qur’an and Hadith offer comprehensive guidance on the performance and significance of good deeds, reinforcing the ethical framework within which Muslims are encouraged to live.
In conclusion, Good Works or aṣ-Ṣāliḥāt form a cornerstone of Islamic ethical and moral behavior, highlighting the intersection of faith, intention, and action in a Muslim’s life. They demonstrate that deeds done with sincerity and in line with Islamic teachings garner divine favor, promoting a harmonious and just society.
