Friday 6 February 2009

Good Deeds Meme

We all make the good intention to perform good deeds and find ways to balance out the small sins we knowingly or unknowingly commit in our everyday lives. Our dreams of the big sadaqah project, of doing community work, of making time to learn more Quran or gain more knowledge or do something substantial that will please Allah (SWT) are often so worthy. In reality though, we find our plans dropping by the wayside and our homes, husband, children and work taking centre stage. Often we do not have the opportunity to make lots of nawafil prayer or stay up through the night in prayer. In place of the great schemes then we are left with the small things. The little kindnesses and thoughtful actions which we can hope will add to our balance when we are judged. Some of the ones I can think of are:

- Smile – it is a form of sadaqah
- Give up tour seat on the bus or train for someone who needs it more (I KNOW you all do this anyway)
- Make dhikr as you go about your daily chores.
- Visit a friend and see if she needs anything
- Say salaam to a sister you see on the street. You might just make her feel less alone.
- Help someone get their pram up or down stairs.
- Buy a pack of biscuits or sweets and share them with your colleagues.
- Lend someone an Islamic book
- Explain to someone why you wear hijab, or pray or follow Islam.
- Say hello to the cleaner, janitor or maid and ask them how they are. Perhaps no-one normally acknowledges that they even exist.
- Show a sister how to wrap hijab.
- Send part of your meal to your neighbour.
- Take someone a small gift
- Be the one to make a new person feel welcome to your office, class, neighbourhood or sisters group
- Learn one verse of the Quran each day as you go about your work.

I nominate anyone who wants to have a go, to tell us what small good deeds we can do to increase our standing on the last day and wash away some of our sins.


Jummah Mubarak to all of you.

“Fear Allah wherever you may be; follow up an evil deed with a good one which will wipe (the former) out, and behave good-naturedly towards people.” ~ Tirmidhi

"A prostitute was forgiven by Allah, because, passing by a panting dog near a well and seeing that the dog was about to die of thirst, she took off her shoe, and tying it with her head-cover she drew out some water for it. So, Allah forgave her because of that." ~Bukhari [Vol 4, 54: 538]

2 comments:

  1. JazakAllah khair for this blog. I've been practice most of today and InshaAllah I will continue. Made me feel really good mashaAllah!

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  2. I was talking to a friend yesterday about how good it feels to do something good for others. A unique feeling that one can not explain. She shared with me this site that also helps spread goodness and I feel this is worthwhile sharing here too: A Global Tribe. Its cool read posts from other people all over the world and find out good things they've done. You can even share your good deeds too!

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