Once, a man traveled abroad in search of wealth. During his time there, he purchased an old wooden box, which he locked and stored in his home. Every time he earned some money, he would keep a portion for himself and deposit the rest into the box through a small hole. After a considerable time, he grew excited, thinking, “I must have saved a substantial amount by now.” However, when he finally opened the box, he was met with a shocking surprise: termites had invaded, devouring some of his money entirely! The remaining bills were partially eaten and rendered useless.
This fictional tale serves as a powerful metaphor. Just as the man neglected his box and allowed it to be ruined, we too must be vigilant in safeguarding our good deeds. Each act of virtue we perform is akin to a precious treasure, crucial for our eternal life. If we don't protect these virtues, we risk losing their rewards.
Our biggest adversaries in this endeavor are our own desires (Nafs) and Satan. They continuously attempt to distract us from performing good deeds. Even if we manage to act righteously, they work to diminish those good deeds' significance for the Hereafter. Allah Almighty warns us about Satan's enmity in the Holy Quran:
وَ لَا یَصُدَّنَّكُمُ الشَّیْطٰنُۚ -اِنَّهٗ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِیْنٌ
Translation from Kanz-ul-Irfan:
And let not Satan divert you, for he is your open enemy.
- (Surah Az-Zukhruf: 62)
Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised us in a Hadith:
“Wise is the person who holds himself accountable and performs good deeds for the goodness of the Hereafter, while a fool is the one who follows the desires of his Nafs and hopes for reward from Allah Almighty in the Hereafter.”
- (Batini Beemariyon Ki Maloomat, Pg. 232)
Thus, both Nafs and Satan are relentless foes, intent on leading us astray and causing us to squander the rewards of our good deeds.
Good deeds hold immense significance for our eternal life. Imagine this world as a field where we plant seeds, knowing that whatever we sow will yield results in the Hereafter. The fruits of our actions manifest as favors and rewards if they are good, while evil actions bring about punishment.
When Judgment Day arrives, the value of every good deed will soar. We will be faced with the reality that even the smallest deed holds great weight. In that moment, we will truly comprehend the value of our good deeds.
Sayyiduna Ikrimah رضی اللہ عنہ states: On Judgment Day, a person will go to his father and say, ‘Dear father, was I not obedient to you? Did I not treat you affectionately? Was I not good to you? You are watching me afflicted with this suffering. Please give me only one virtue from your virtues or take the burden of one of my sin .’ The father will say, ‘My son, definitely, it is easy to give what you asked me for but I also fear the same thing which you fear.’ After that, the father will remind the son about his favors to him and make a similar demand. So, the son will reply, ‘You asked for very few things but I also fear the same thing which you fear.’
(Tafseer-e-Qurtubi, Vol. 7, Part 14, Pg. 247)
We must make the most of our lives by seizing every opportunity to perform righteous acts. Each moment spent in good deeds brings us closer to Allah.
Every good deed, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is important. Allah Almighty assures us that He rewards even the smallest acts of goodness. The Holy Quran states:
فَمَنْ یَّعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَیْرًا یَّرَهٗ (7)وَ مَنْ یَّعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا یَّرَهٗ(8)
Translation from Kanz-ul-Irfan:
So whosoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whosoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.
- (Al-Zilzaal: 7-8)
We must never underestimate any act of kindness or goodness. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised:
لَا تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شَیْئًا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَلْقَی أَخَاکَ بِوَجْہٍ طَلْق
i.e. Do not underestimate any good thing though it is to meet your brother cheerfully.
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Birr, Hadith:2626, Pg. 1413)
Such small acts might be the very ones that earn us Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.
The potential for losing good deeds is real, and we should be cautious about actions that can nullify them. Jealousy, for instance, is particularly destructive. The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned us:
اِیَّاکُمْ وَالْحَسَدَ فَاِنَّ الْحَسَدَ یَأْکُلُ الْحَسَنَاتِ کَمَا تَأْکُلُ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ
Avoid jealousy. It devours good deeds just like fire burns dry wood.
(Abu Dawood, Kitab-ul-Adab, Baab Fil-Hasad, 4/360, Hadith: 4903)
Many other actions can nullify our virtues, but by understanding the significance of good deeds, we can develop a mindset that values and protects them.
In light of these reflections, let us strive to cultivate the habit of performing good deeds while being mindful of our shortcomings. Let us not fall into the trap of Nafs and Satan that makes good deeds seem daunting. The reality is, many good deeds are simple and within our reach.
With Allah’s mercy, we can turn every effort into a means of securing our place in the Hereafter. May Allah inspire us to recognize the importance of our actions, help us protect our good deeds, and forgive our shortcomings. Let's embark on this journey together, one good deed at a time!
Allah’s Name to commence with, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. ,” is a declaration of faith, an invocation of Allah’s presence in whatever you’re about to undertake.
