Faith Friday: The Continuous Good Deed

There are three very important points in this hadith: doing good deeds, continuity and quantity. The Prophet didn't mention the "size" of those deeds to emphasise that Allah (subhanahu wa taala) loves good deeds regardless of their size and quantity and more importantly, He loves the ones that are done continuously. After all, raindrops make an ocean and one raindrop creates a ripple effect.

Reflect on this : Why is a consistent "small" good deed that more beloved to Allah (swt) than one grandeur act? For example, would it be better for a person to donate $100,000 to a chosen charity organisation instead of giving them $10 every month? It would appear that the former would benefit the organisation greatly compared to the latter. But that shouldn't be the only reason why we donate to charity, right?

What Allah (swt) assesses is the intention behind the act. A "small" act of sincerity is more valuable to Him than a "large" contribution that was given for insincere reasons.

“Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” - Mother Theresa

People often hesitate to do good because they overlook an important principle. Doing good deeds is not solely about benefitting others. Sadaqah (charity) is an act of purification and a good deeds is a form of charity in Islam. That means when you give to charity and do good deeds sincerely you are purifying yourself from past sins and your possessions from traces of impurity  (e.g. illegal sources), God willing (inshaAllah).

Doing good deeds consistently means you are also purifying yourself consistently. See how Allah loves what is beneficial for us? SubhanaAllah wa Alhamdulillah. A sign of His greatness is the love He has for His creations. The one we worship should also be the one who loves and "looks out" for us. If the concept of good deeds as purification sounds illogical to you then consider this. Consistency reflects commitment and sincerity because only people with sincere hearts can commit their time and effort and not only their possessions.

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. - Khalil Gibran

Doing things consistently also means you are a reliable and trustworthy person. Isn't it amazing how good deeds build character? So never belittle a good deed even if it seems insignificant to you. To Allah (swt) it  could be worth more than everything in this world and it could be the very thing that saves a person from Hellfire. Find a good deed (or a few) that you enjoy and stick to it. Perform good deeds with steadfastness (continuity and patience) and you will reap the rewards in both this world and the Hereafter for Allah truly loves the steadfast.

O you who believe! Seek help in steadfastness and prayer. Truly! Allah is with the steadfast. {Surah Al Baqarah, 153}

Jumaah Mubarak everyone.

This post was inspired by 1000GoodDeeds.com and a reminder to myself, first and foremost.