Those Who Do Good Meet Goodness

Another secret that God reveals in the Qur'an is that those who do good will be rewarded with good both in the world and in the hereafter. Of this God says the following:

Say: 'My servants who believe! Have fear of your Lord. For those who do good in the life of this world there is good and God's earth is spacious. The steadfast will be paid their wages in full without any reckoning.' (Surat az-Zumar: 10) 

However, one needs to know what the actual "goodness" is. Each society has developed its own understanding of goodness; being pleasant, giving money to the poor, behaving with tolerance towards every sort of treatment are often perceived as signs of "goodness" in society. However, God informs us what the actual "goodness" is in the Qur'an:

It is not righteousness to turn your faces to the East or to the West. Rather, truly righteous are those who believe in God and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book and the Prophets, and who, despite their love for it, give away their wealth to their relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to travellers and beggars and to set slaves free, and who establish regular prayer (salat) and pay regular charity (zakat); those who honour their contracts when they make them, and are steadfast in poverty and illness and in battle. Those are the people who are true. They are the people who have fear for God. (Surat al-Baqara: 177)

As the verse above draws our attention, true goodness is to have fear of God, to keep oneself occupied with the remembrance of the day of reckoning, to follow one's conscience and always to engage in deeds which would please God. God's Messenger, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, also bid believers to fear God and to do good:

Fear God wherever you are. Do good immediately after a sinful act to erase it, and always be well-mannered in your relationship with people.5

God has revealed in the Qur'an that He loves those who always do good due to their faith and their fear and love for God, and adds that He will reward them with good:

So God gave them the reward of the life of this world and the best reward of the hereafter. God loves the good-doers. (Surah Ali 'Imran: 148)

... There is good in the life of this world for those who do good, and the abode of the hereafter is even better. How wonderful is the abode of those who have fear of God. (Surat an-Nahl: 30)

This is good news given in the Qur'an to those who do good, who are self-sacrificing and who strive to earn God's good pleasure.

God gives these people the glad tidings of a good life both in this world and in the hereafter, an increase in blessings - both material and spiritual. The Prophet Solomon, who was given an entire kingdom, the like of which was never granted to anyone, and the prophet Joseph(Yusuf), who was placed in authority over the treasures of Egypt, are examples given in the Qur'an. God informs us about the blessings He granted on the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in the verse "Did He not find you impoverished and enrich you?" (Surat ad-Duha: 8).

One needs to remember that a beautiful and glorious life is not a blessing granted only to earlier generations of believers. God promises that, in each period, He will give His believing servants a good life:

Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them according to the best of what they did. (Surat an-Nahl: 97)

Believers never chase after the world; that is to say, they do not demonstrate greed for worldly wealth, status or power. As God states in a verse, they have sold their lives and their wealth in return for paradise. Trade or commerce do not distract them from the remembrance of God, the performance of prayers and serving for religion. Furthermore, they show steadfastness and submission even when they are tested with hunger or loss of wealth, and they never complain. Believers who emigrated in the Prophet's time were an example. They immigrated to another city, leaving their houses, occupations, commerce, property and gardens behind and there, they were contented with little. In return they only wanted to earn God's pleasure. Their contentment and sincere remembrance of the hereafter earned them God's blessings and good lives and gifts. These gifts and wealth did not increase their attachment to this world, but rather led them to render their thanks to God and to remember Him. God promises every believer who displays high morals a good life in this world.

God has promised to multiply the deeds of His servants who do good 

God has promised to multiply the deeds of His servants who do good. Some of the verses related in the Qur'an on this subject are as follows:

Those who produce a good action will receive ten like it. But those who produce a bad action will only be repaid with its equivalent and they will not be wronged. (Surat al-An'am: 160)

God does not wrong anyone by so much as the smallest speck. And if there is a good deed God will multiply it and pay out an immense reward direct from Him. (Surat an-Nisa': 40)

The most obvious sign that God multiplies every good deed is the difference between the life of this world and the hereafter. The life of the world is quite a short period, which lasts 60 years on average. However, those who purify themselves and engage in good deeds in this world will be rewarded with an infinite goodness in the hereafter in return for what they did during this short life. God has given this promise in a verse as follows:

Those who do good will have the best and more... (Surah Yunus: 26)

One needs to contemplate the concept of "infinity" in order to comprehend the greatness of this reward. Let's assume that all people who have ever lived on earth so far and those who will live in the future spend every single second of their lives counting. This figure will surely become too large to articulate. Yet, next to "infinity", even this enormous number would mean nothing. Because "infinite" means endless, having no limits in time. The abode of those who display devotion to God in this world will be paradise in the hereafter. There, they will remain for all eternity, attain anything their souls desire and will have no limits for this. This is surely an example that should be reflected on in order to comprehend the enormity of God's mercy and grace.

There is Light in Believers' Faces, But Disgrace in Those of Disbelievers

One of the secrets that God reveals in the Qur'an is that belief and disbelief are reflected on people's faces and skins. In many verses, God informs that there is light on believers' faces, whereas there is disgrace on disbelievers':

And you will see them brought forward to it (hell) made humble by disgrace, looking with a stealthy glance... (Surat ash-Shura: 45)

Those who do good will have the best and more! Neither dust nor debasement will cover their faces. They are the Companions of the Garden, remaining in it timelessly, forever. But as for those who have earned bad actions - a bad action will be repaid with one the like of it. Debasement will overshadow them. They will have no one to protect them from God. It is as if their faces were covered with a strip of darkest night. Those are the Companions of the Fire, remaining in it timelessly, forever. (Surah Yunus: 26-27)

As stated in these verses, disbelievers' faces are shadowed by debasement. On the other hand, believers have light on their faces. God states that they are recognised by the traces of prostration on their faces:

Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and those who are with him are fierce to the disbelievers, merciful to one another. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking God's good favour and His pleasure. Their mark is on their faces, the traces of prostration... (Surat al-Fath: 29)

In other verses, God informs that disbelievers and evildoers are recognised by their faces:

The evildoers will be recognised by their mark and seized by their forelocks and their feet. (Surat ar-Rahman: 41) 

If We wished, We would show them to you and you would know them by their mark and know them by their ambivalent speech. God knows your actions. (Surah Muhammad: 30) 

It is a miracle and an important secret revealed in the Qur'an that, depending on one's faith or evildoing, physical changes occur on one's face. Spiritual feelings produce physical effects on body; although the contour remains the same, the expression of the face changes or the face is lightened or overshadowed. A man of faith, can, by the Will of God, see this miracle God performs on people.

The Secret That God Erases Bad Actions

The aim of believers is to earn the good pleasure, mercy and paradise of God. However, man is created weak and forgetful; therefore, makes many mistakes and possesses many failings. God, Who knows His servants best and Who is the most merciful and compassionate, has informed us that He will erase the bad actions of His sincere servants and will give them an easy reckoning:

As for him who is given his Book in his right hand, he will be given an easy reckoning and return to his family joyful. (Surat al-Inshiqaq: 7-9)

No doubt, God does not change the bad actions of every person into good. The attributes of those believers whose bad actions God erases and forgives are informed in the Qur'an.

THOSE WHO AVOID SERIOUS WRONG ACTIONS

In a verse, God states: "If you avoid the serious wrong actions you have been forbidden, We will erase your bad actions from you and admit you by a Gate of Honour." (Surat an-Nisa': 31). 

Believers who are aware of this fact observe the limits set by God meticulously and avoid committing what is forbidden. If they ever err out of forgetfulness or heedlessness, they immediately turn to God and repent and ask for forgiveness.

God informs us in the Qur'an about His servants whose repentance will be accepted. In this sense, knowing the commandments of God, yet deliberately committing sins, saying "no matter what happens I will be forgiven" shows completely flawed reasoning. That is because, God forgives the wrong actions of His servants who commit them out of ignorance and who, without losing any time, repent and display no insistence on them and make up for them:

God only accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and then quickly repent after doing it. God turns towards such people. God is All-Knowing, All-Wise. There is no repentance for people who persist in doing evil until death comes to them and who then say, 'Now I repent,' nor for people who die while they are disbelievers. We have prepared for them a painful punishment. (Surat an-Nisa': 17-18)

As the verses suggest, studious avoidance of sins is essential if a person wants his bad actions to be erased and to feel no regret on the day of judgement. A believer who commits a sin, on the other hand, should lose no time in asking for repentance from God.

THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN GOOD DEEDS

In other verses, God states that He will cover the bad actions of those who act rightly. Some of the relevant verses are as follows:

On the Day He gathers you for the Day of Gathering - that is the Day of Profit and Loss. As for those who believe in God and act rightly, We will erase their bad actions from them and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever and ever. That is the Great Victory! (Surat at-Taghabun: 9)

Except for those who make sincere repentance and believe and act rightly: God will transform the wrong actions of such people into good - God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful - (Surat al-Furqan: 70)

Each act and all behaviour displayed to seek the favour of God are a "righteous deed". For instance, any attitude such as communicating the morality of the religion to people, reminding someone who does not put his trust in God about fate, hindering someone from gossiping, keeping one's house and body clean, expanding one's horizons by reading and learning, talking graciously, reminding people about the hereafter, caring for the sick, showing love and compassion to the elderly, earning money through lawful means so that one can use it for the good of people, staving off evil with good and patience can become righteous deeds when they are done to earn the good pleasure of God. Those who desire their wrong actions to be remitted and transformed into good in the hereafter should always choose to act in the way that God will be most pleased with. For such an end, one should constantly remember the reckoning on the Day of Judgement. It is obvious how one would act, for example, if he were made to stand before the fire of hell, he were shown the bad actions he had done in his life, and were warned that he had to act in the right way in order to be forgiven. A person who sees the fire, who hears the despair, remorse and groaning of the people of hell under that painful punishment and who witnesses the punishment of the hell with his own eyes would surely act in the way that would most please God and strive with his utmost striving. This person would pray on time, perform good deeds, would never be careless, would never dare to choose an act when he knows there is another act that would please Him. Because hell, which remains right beside him, would always remind him of his eternal life and of God's punishment. Such a person could not defer his deeds. He would immediately and perfectly perform what his conscience commands him to. He would be meticulous and persistent in prayers. So, in the life of this world, the wrong actions of only those who perform good deeds, fearing God and the day of judgement, as if they had seen the hell and returned back to the world, or as if they always see the fire right beside them will be transformed into good. These believers are certain about the hereafter and they greatly fear and try to avoid God's punishment.

Divine Purposes in Spending in God's Way

One of the most important acts of worship that cleanses material and spiritual dirt, and enables man to discipline his souls and thus to attain a state of high morality that God would be pleased with, is to spend in God's way for benevolent causes. God has told the Prophet, peace be upon him, to take alms out of believers' property and to cleanse and purify them thereby.

Take alms from their wealth to purify and cleanse them... (Surat at-Tawba: 103)

However, the act of spending that purifies and cleanses people is the one that is made in the way specified in the Qur'an. People believe themselves to have exceedingly fulfilled their duty when they give some small change to beggars, when they give away some of their old clothes to the poor or when they feed a hungry person. No doubt these are the acts that would be rewarded in God's sight if they were performed with the intention of earning the good pleasure of God. Yet, there are limits specified in the Qur'an. For example, God commands man to spend whatever is surplus to his needs:

... They will ask you what they should give away. Say, 'Whatever is surplus to your needs.' In this way God makes the Signs clear to you, so that hopefully you will reflect; (Surat al-Baqara: 219)

Man needs very little to live in this world. Property that is in excess of one's needs is surplus goods. What is important is not the amount given but whether one sincerely gives away what he can really afford. God has knowledge of all things and He has left it to man's conscience to decide the things he actually does not need. Giving away is a very easy form of worship for those who are not seized by worldly ambitions and who have not sold out to this world, but yearn for the hereafter. God has ordered us to give away out of our wealth to avoid attachment to this world. This is a means to purify ourselves of greed. No doubt, this form of worship is very important for believers in respect of their reckoning in the hereafter. God's Messenger, peace be upon him, also said that he who spends in the way of God is favoured:

Two people are favoured: One is someone to whom God gave the Qur'an and who lived by it. He accepted as lawful whatever it commanded as lawful, and as unlawful whatever it commanded as unlawful. The other is someone to whom God gave property and who allotted this property among his relatives and spent it on God's path.6 

MAN SHOULD GIVE OF WHAT HE LOVES TO THE NEEDY

People often tend to do someone a favour if that favour does not harm their interests. For example, when someone gives away possessions to the needy, he often gives things that are no longer desired, or disliked, out of style, or no longer fit for use.

God, however, commands man to give away the entities he cherishes for himself. One may find it difficult to give away beloved possessions, but such generosity is essential to purification and the attainment of righteousness. This is an important secret that God has revealed to mankind. God has stated that man could, in no other way, attain goodness:

You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love. Whatever you give away, God knows it. (Surah Ali 'Imran: 92)

You who believe! Give away some of the good things you have earned and some of what the earth produces for you. Do not have recourse to bad things when you give, things you would only take with your eyes tight shut! Know that God is Rich Beyond Need, Praiseworthy. (Surat al-Baqara: 267)

SPENDING IN GOD'S WAY IS A MEANS TO DRAW NEARER TO HIM

For a believer, nothing is dearer than earning God's good pleasure and love. A believer seeks the means to get closer to God throughout his life. Of this God states the following:

You who believe! Have fear of God and seek the means of drawing near to Him, and strive in His Way, so that hopefully you will be successful. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 35)

As a secret and good news to believers, God revealed in the Qur'an that what is spent should be a means of obtaining nearness to Him. Therefore, for a believer, giving away what he loves and what is beyond his needs is not a hardship, but rather a precious opportunity to demonstrate devotion and love for God. Of this God states the following:

And among the desert Arabs there are some who believe in God and the Last Day and regard what they give as something, which will bring them nearer to God and to the prayers of the Messenger. It does indeed bring them near. God will admit them into His mercy. God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat at-Tawba: 99)

WHATEVER IS SPENT IN GOD'S WAY WILL HAVE AGOOD RECOMPENSE

Another secret revealed in respect of giving away one's property in the Qur'an is that whatever is spent will certainly be replaced. This is God's promise. Those who spend their property in God's way with no fear of poverty, are presented astonishing blessings all through their lives. Whatever is spent in God's way is paid back in full. Some of the verses that relate to the promise are as follows:

You are not responsible for their guidance, but God guides whosoever He wills. Whatever good you give away is to your own benefit, when you give desiring only the Face of God. Whatever good you give away will be repaid to you in full. You will not be wronged. (Surat al-Baqara: 272)

... Anything you spend in the Way of God will be repaid to you in full. You will not be wronged. (Surat al-Anfal: 60)

Say: 'My Lord expands the provision of any of His servants as He wills or restricts it. But He will replace anything you spend. He is the Best of Providers.' (Surah Saba': 39)

Believers desire to earn only God's good pleasure and paradise when they give away their properties and extend themselves; but as a secret revealed by God, whatever they spend is paid back to them. As stated in the verse, God replaces what is spent. These repayments are both blessings in the world and, above all else, gifts in paradise God has prepared for believers. On the other hand, contrary to those who give away, God lessens the provision of those people who are miserly in giving away their wealth or who desire to accumulate more wealth by disregarding the limits of God. One of the relevant verses relates the state of those who charge interest:

God obliterates usury but makes deeds of charity grow in value! God does not love any persistently ungrateful wrongdoer. (Surat al-Baqara: 276)

God informs about the abundance that those who give away their properties attain as follows:

The metaphor of those who spend their wealth in the Way of God is that of a grain which produces seven ears; in every ear there are a hundred grains. God gives such multiplied increase to whomever He wills. God is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara: 261)

You who believe! Do not nullify your charity by demands for gratitude or insulting words, like him who spends his wealth, showing off to people and not believe in God and the Last Day. His likeness is that of a smooth rock coated with soil, which, when heavy rain falls on it, is left stripped bare. They have no power over anything they have earned. God does not guide disbelieving people.

The metaphor of those who spend their wealth, desiring the pleasure of God and firmness for themselves, is that of a garden on a hillside. When heavy rain falls on it, it doubles its produce; and if heavy rain does not fall, there is dew. God sees what you do. (Surat al-Baqara: 264-265)

Each one of these verses is a secret that God reveals to believers in the Qur'an. Believers spend their wealth only to earn the good pleasure and mercy of God and His paradise. However, being aware of these secrets revealed in the Quran, they also hope for God's blessings and grace. The more they spend their goods and extend themselves in God's way and the more meticulous they become in observing what is forbidden and lawful, the more God increases their wealth, makes their tasks easy, and provides more of the opportunities to spend in His way. Every believer who fears God and harbours no fear in his heart for future, experiences this secret in the course of his life.

The Effect of Good Actions and Good Words

People are in a relentless search for peaceful environments where they can live in safety, have joy and cherish friendship. Despite this longing, however, they never put forth an effort to foster these values, but rather they become themselves the causes of conflicts and misery. Often people expect others to provide peace and safety and be friendly. This applies to family relations, relations among employees of a company, to social peace as well as to international affairs. Yet, maintenance of friendship, peace and safety demand altruism. Conflict and restlessness cannot be avoided when people insist on having the last word, when they consider only their own comfort and are unwilling to make any compromises or sacrifices. However, believers who fear God act differently. They are unselfish, forgiving and forbearing. Even when they are wronged, they renounce their own rights, regard the peace and safety of the society and happiness of others over their own self-interest, and display courteous behaviour. This is a noble attribute that God commands believers to have:

A good action and a bad action are not the same. Repel the bad with something better and, if there is enmity between you and someone else, he will be like a bosom friend. None will obtain it but those who are truly steadfast. None will obtain it but those who have great good fortune. (Surah Fussilat: 34-35)

Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition, and argue with them in the kindest way. Your Lord knows best who is misguided from His way. And He knows best who are guided. (Surat an-Nahl: 125)

As stated in the verse, in return for this good act of believers, God changes their enemies into "bosom friends". This is one of God's secrets. After all, all hearts are in God's hand. He changes the heart and thought of whomever He wills.

In some other verses, God draws our attention to the effect of good and gentle word. God commands the Prophet Moses and Aaron, peace be upon them, to go to Pharaoh and to speak to him gently. Despite Pharaoh's unfairness, insolence and mercilessness, God has commanded His messengers to speak to him with gentle words. God has explained the reason in the Qur'an:

Go to Pharaoh; he has overstepped the bounds. But speak to him with gentle words so that hopefully he will pay heed or show some fear. (Surah Ta Ha: 43-44)

These verses inform believers about the type of attitude they should assume towards disbelievers, their enemies and insolent people. This surely encourages patience, will, modesty and wisdom. God has revealed as a secret that He will render the acts of believers effective and will change their enemies into friends when they obey His commands and act in compliance with good morals.

The Secret That God Provides Room For People

One of the serious mistakes people make is that they consider everything as a consequence of something else. For example, as mentioned in previous pages, they think that they would run out of money if they spent their wealth in God's way. However, there is a secret in God's creation of which they are unaware; that God will increase His blessings on those who give in God's Cause both in this world and in the hereafter. Surely, God makes man perceive these as a cause and effect functioning of the world. For example, the affairs of someone who gives away his wealth for the cause of God is rendered easy and his earnings are increased by God. Or, as explained in the previous section, one may resort to force to cope with a furious person because he believes gentle words would not soothe him. However, for a person who obeys God's commands, the secrets God revealed in the Qur'an provide the only solution.

One of these secrets revealed in the Qur'an is another command of God:

You who believe! When you are told: 'Make room in the gathering,' then make room and God will make room for you! And when it is said, 'Get up!' Get up! God will raise in rank those of you who believe and those who have been given knowledge. God is aware of what you do. (Surat al-Mujadila: 11)

God commands believers to obey the call to make room in an assembly for newcomers or thin out the crowd when necessary. This, as well as indicating consideration and kindness, is also a sign of obedience. God revealed that He will provide ample room for believers and will raise them in rank in return to their behaviour. God holds the intention and heart of every man in His hand. If He is pleased with their behaviour, He can give this person any gift and beauty He wills. For that reason, believers expect the result and reward of everything from God. When they make room in an assembly, they do not expect gratitude from people, but hope for God's good pleasure, for the peace He will give to their hearts and for being raised in rank.

God Certainly Helps Those Who Help His Religion

God reveals a secret in the Qur'an as follows:

You who believe! If you help God, He will help you and make your feet firm. (Surah Muhammad: 7)

Throughout their lives, believers make a serious effort to spread the values of the Qur'an amongst people and spread the message of God. On the other hand, throughout history, there have always been groups of disbelievers who have been against believers and tried to hinder them through force and pressure. In the Qur'an, God states that He is always with believers against disbelievers, that He will make their affairs easy, and that He will help and support believers. Believers who put sincere effort in God's way experience this at every single instant of their lives. God brings all their affairs to a conclusion with ease, and gives them success and beauty. Even in very difficult situations, He provides ease for the believers. Even in cases when those with poor faith said "alas", give way to despair and see no way out, God has sent down His help to the believers and made them successful.

Believers who are certain that God helps and supports them, never give up hope and wait with excitement to see how God will conclude an event. The Prophet Moses and his people are an example of this. The Prophet Moses and the people of Israel left Egypt to be protected from the cruelty of Pharaoh. But Pharaoh and his army chased them. When the Prophet Moses and the people of Israel reached the sea, some of them who had poor faith panicked and lost hope, thinking that they would be overtaken by the Pharaoh. Yet, the Prophet Moses said: "... My Lord is with me and He will guide me." (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 62) And thus displayed his faith in God's support to believers. Indeed, God parted the waters of the sea and allowed the Prophet Moses and his companions to cross to the other shore safely. Meanwhile, He closed the sea over the Pharaoh and his soldiers and they drowned.

A believer, who is close to God, who takes God as his friend and knows He supports those who believe, will see the manifestation of this secret in every instance of his life. Surely, miracles like the parting of the sea are signs that God shows to some of His messengers. However, if believers ponder sincerely, reflect on God's creation and the verses of the Qur'an in every incident, they can see the miracle-like manifestations of God's support and help in every situation.

GOD HELPS BELEIVERS ALSO THROUGH IMPERCEPTIBLE WAYS

In many verses, God has informed believers about the support He bestows on them. For example, in a verse, God has stated that He will make their enemies see believers as twice their number:

There has already been for you a Sign in the two armies that met (in combat): One was fighting in the cause of God, the other resisting God; these saw with their own eyes twice their number. But God does support with His aid whom He pleases. In this is warnings for such as have eyes to see. (Surah Ali 'Imran: 13)

GOD HELPS BELEIVERS BY MEANS OF FOILING THE PLOTS HATCHED AGAINST THEM

As previously mentioned, disbelievers cause various difficulties for believers and hatch plots against them in order to hinder them from the way of God. But God informs in the Qur'an that all plots against believers will be foiled, will be returned back against the plotters and will not harm believers in any way. Some of these verses are as follows:

... But then when a Warner did come to them, it only increased their aversion, shown by their arrogance in the land and evil plotting. But evil plotting envelops only those who do it. Do they expect anything but the pattern of previous peoples? You will not find any changing in the pattern of God. You will not find any alteration in the pattern of God. (Surah Fatir: 42-43)

If something good happens to you, it galls them. If something bad strikes you, they rejoice at it. But if you are steadfast and have fear of God, their scheming will not harm you in any way. God encompasses what they do. (Surah Ali 'Imran: 120)

Prophet Joseph's life is exemplary in the sense that the schemes hatched against believers will ultimately turn in their favour and against hatchers. As related in Surah Yusuf, the prophet Joseph's brothers, who were consumed with envy, devised a plan and threw him to a well. When Prophet Joseph, peace be upon him, was still young, another scheme was devised by the governor's wife, in whose house prophet Joseph resided. The promise of God entailed the failure of all these plots and protection from harm. Following the plans devised, God placed the prophet Joseph in authority over the treasures of the land. After all these, the prophet Joseph commented that the plots of the disbelievers are fated to failure:

(Then Joseph said: I asked for this) so that he (my former master) may know at last that I did not dishonour him behind his back and that God most surely does not guide the deviousness of the dishonourable. (Surah Yusuf: 52)