Gateways of Goodness in Ramadhaan-III

Gateways of Goodness in Ramadhaan-III
MONDAY 02/08/2010 Print


1- Invoking prayers on the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever invokes prayers on me once, Allaah will return it to him ten times." [Muslim]
2- Calling to Allaah The Almighty and to goodness. "Whoever calls people to guidance, shall receive a reward equal to that of those who followed him without affecting their rewards in the least." [Muslim]
3- Relieving people. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever relieves a Muslim from distress in this world, Allaah will relieve him from distress on the Day of Resurrection." [Muslim]
4- Avoiding harming Muslims. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was asked, "Who are the best Muslims?" He said: "The one whom Muslims are safe from his tongue and hand." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
5- Helping good people. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "There is charity required from man's joints every day. Whoever helps a man to ride on his mount or carry his luggage on it, this would be charity." [Al-Bukhaari]
6- Fulfilling people's needs. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Intercede and you will be rewarded, and Allaah decrees what He wills by the tongue of His Messenger (i.e. it is by the will of Allaah that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, accepts the intercession or not)." [Al-Bukhaari]
7- Doing righteous deeds, even small ones, on a regular basis. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "The best deeds in the sight of Allaah are those done regularly even if they are small." [Muslim]
8- Kindness to neighbors. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, let him be kind to his neighbor." [Muslim]
9- Returning rights taken unjustly and asking forgiveness of their owners. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever has wronged his brother, let him ask his forgiveness before the time (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) when he will have neither a dinar nor a dirham. If he has done some good deeds, a portion equal to his wrong doings will be subtracted from them; but if he has no good deeds, he will be burdened with the evil deeds of the one he had wronged in the same proportion." [Al-Bukhaari]
10- Following a bad deed with a good one. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Fear Allaah wherever you are, do good deeds after doing bad ones since the former will wipe out the latter, and behave kindly towards people." [Ahmad and Al-Haakim]
11- Returning trusts and keeping covenants. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "There is no faith in the one who is not honest, nor is there a religion for the one who breaches his covenant." [Ahmad]
12- Showing mercy to the young and honoring the old. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever does not show mercy to the young or respect the old is not from us." [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]
13- Dealing with people compassionately and mercifully and taking care of their affairs as much as possible. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "The believers in their love, mercy, and compassion are like one body; when an organ aches, the whole body responds in wakefulness and fever." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
14- Silence and guarding the tongue except from saying good words. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day should say good words or keep silent." [Al-Bukhaari]
15- Defending people's honor. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever defends his brother's honor, Allaah will protect his face from the fire on the Day of Resurrection." [At-Tirmithi]
16- Purity of the heart and avoiding rancor. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "The gates of Paradise are opened on Mondays and Thursdays, and then every slave (of Allaah) is granted forgiveness if he does not associate anything with Allaah in worship. But the person in whose heart there is rancor against his (Muslim) brother, they will not be pardoned and with regard to them it will be said: 'Hold both of them until they are reconciled with each other.'" [Muslim]
17- Justice between people. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "There is charity required from people's joints every day the sun rises, and when he judges between people justly, this would be charity." [Al-Bukhaari]
18- Accepting the invitation of the one who calls to goodness and giving to the one who asks. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Grant shelter to him who begs for it in the Name of Allaah, give to him who asks in the Name of Allaah, accept the invitation of him who invites you, and requite him who does a favor to you." [Ahmad, An-Nasaa’i and Abu Daawood]
19- Gratefulness for the favor and rewarding the one who does it. This indicates the Muslim's good manners. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Reward the one who does you a favor, and if one does not find anything to give, let him praise the one who did the favor. If he praises him, he will have thanked him; otherwise, he would be ungrateful to him." [Al-Bukhaari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]
20- Striving in worship during the last days of Ramadhaan. "When the last ten days of Ramadhaan come, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to pray all night, awaken his wives, and avoid intercourse with his wives."[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
21- Performing prayer on the Night of Al-Qadr with faith and in hope for reward. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever performs voluntary prayers on the Night of Al-Qadr with faith and in hope for reward, his past sins will be forgiven." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
22- I‘tikaaf (staying in seclusion). "The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to make I‘tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadhaan." [Al-Bukhaari]
23- Giving Zakaat-ul-Fitr (charity due before the 'Eed prayer) at its due time. "The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, made Zakaat-ul-Fitr compulsory so that those who fasted may be purified of their idle deeds and ill speech (committed during Ramadhaan) and so that the poor may be fed. Whoever gives it before the ‘Eed Prayer, will have it accepted as Zakaah, while he who gives it after ‘Eed Prayer, has given charity."
24- Finally, attain the rewards of fasting for one’s entire lifetime by fasting six days of Shawwaal. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever observes fasting throughout the whole month of Ramadhaan and follows it by fasting six days of Shawwaal, it would be like fasting throughout one’s whole life." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]