Surah Al Baqarah V.177-182

A Recipe For The Righteouss

Farhiya Ahmed (Group Aisha)
We all would love to become righteous people and attain the mercy of Allah swt but are we willing to work for it? Many of us work extremely hard to achieve something in this life time; whether it’s a higher education or a dream job, good family and friends etc. However, how many of us want to gain all of theses goals for the benefit of uplifting the deen of Allah swt and attaining success in the hereafter?
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allāh, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakāh; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous. [Al Baqarah:177]
  We see from this that the basic recipe to righteousness is; Imaan in the heart that leads one to spend in the way of Allah, fulfillment of ones religious obligations, good conduct with others, patience and truthful speech. These actions will lead us to enjoin the good and forbid the evil with the permission of Allah. What I love about this ayat is that Allah swt is telling us how to gain his pleasure. Firstly by correcting our misconceptions. Sometimes we all get caught up in the physical actions of Islam, such as thinking that it is righteousness to wear hijab or dress in the sunnah way but our behavior does not reflect righteousness.
  Secondly Allah swt is letting us know the fundamentals to achieving righteousness and that it starts in the heart. Firm belief in Allah swt, the last day, in his angels, his books, and his messengers is necessary. Once we establish the core beliefs in our hearts then it will make our actions correct.
  Lastly, once our inside is purified then our actions are going to be solely for the pleasure of Allah swt. Therefore, if we want to spend some extra money we have we would spend in the way of Allah swt for his deen or on those whom it would please Him. For example spending on orphans or travelers, we would also be truthful in all of our business dealings and would remain patient through any difficulty that comes our way. May Allah make us among the righteous believers Ameen!