Good Deeds Wipe Out Evil Deeds
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, MOST COMPASSIONATE MOST MERCIFUL
All utmust praise and
gratitude is due to Allah, The self sufficient Master, Him alone we worship and
beseech for forgiveness. May His infinite peace and blessings be upon His
chosen and noble messenger Muhammad (SAW), his house-hold and even those who
follows their right path till the Day of reckoning.
My good fellow servants
of Allah! indeed the issue of underating sins is one of the servants distroyers.
For a hadith recorded by imam Ahmad. Narrated
ibn Mas'uod (R.A): The messenger of Allah SAW said to Aisha (R.AH);
"Beware of sins that are belittled. For verily they gathered in a man
until they distroy him". And Allah The almighty mentioned in sura Zalzalah(99/8)
: " And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of speck of dust shall see it". and this really mean
that no any small sin that is committed by a servant which would not be brought
on the dooms Day. Provided that such is the case, then one shold be extra careful
and follow the different routs to have his sins forgiven from him. A poet says
"who has never committeed a sin, and who has only righteous deeds." So
Allah the omniscience and His prophet mentioned in different traditions. so long as a servant keeps away the major
sins (i.e; shirk, alcoholism,sodomy or adultry, stealing, killing innocent soul
e.t.c) the mentioned below ways can helps him achieve forgiveness.
Allah (SWT) says in a verse 114 of surah Hûd, "And establish the Prayer, Salat,
(O Messenger) at the beginning and the end of the day, and in the watches of
the night the night near to the day. Verily, good deeds wipe out evil deeds. This
is advice and a reminder for the mindful who reflect."
In this
verse, Allah (SWT) orders His believing servants to perform the five daily
prayers which are the greatest pillar of Islam, and which wipe out sins and
wrongdoings. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "Tell
me, if there were a stream at the door of one of you in which he takes a bath
five times a day, would any filth remain upon his body?" His
companions replied, "No dirt would remain." He (SAW), "Similar
is the case of the five (obligatory) As-salat (the prayers). Allah obliterates
all sins as a result of offering them." In this verse, Allah (SWT) also emphasizes that doing good deeds wipe out bad deeds. This includes all actions intended for Allah (SWT) and this is from the mercy of Allah (SWT) to His servants and His blessings upon the believers.
At the end of this verse, Allah (SWT) emphasizes that this is a reminder for His servants who remember Him and believe in Him.
Reason for the revelation:
Imam Bukhari reported to us the reason for the revelation of this verse. He says: a man kissed a woman (unlawfully) and then went to the prophet (SAW) and informed him. So Allah revealed this verse. The man asked Allah's Messenger (SAW): Is this instruction for me only? He said: "It is for all those of my followers (who encounter a similar situation)."
The prophet (SAW) emphasizes to us that good deeds wipe out bad ones. This is expressed in many authentic Ahadith. The prophet (SAW) said to Abu Dharr (RA): "...And follow the bad deed with a good one that will wipe out the bad one…." In another narration, Abu Dharr asked the prophet (SAW): "Give me advice", the prophet (SAW) said: "If you do a bad deed, then follow it with a good one that will wipe it out." Abu Dharr said: "Oh Messenger of Allah, is "La Ilaha Illa Lah" from the good deeds" The prophet (SAW) replied: "It is the best deed."
Also there are some authentic Ahadith where the prophet (SAW) specifies certain good deeds to be from those that wipe out bad ones. Let us mention some of them:
1- Repentance from the sins. Imam Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "If anyone repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him."
And also in an authentic Hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmidhi that the prophet (SAW) said, "Allah accepts a servant's repentance till his death rattle begins (That is, before the soul of the dying person reaches the throat)."
2- Praying two Rak’ahs and seeking forgiveness after doing bad deeds. An authentic Hadith reported by Imam Abu Dawod that the prophet (SAW) said: "If a servant does a bad deed, then he performs a wudu perfectly, and pray two Rak’ahs and seek Allah’s forgiveness, then Allah will forgive him."
3- The believer’s perseverance through hardship and crises. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief or mental worry of even the pricking of a thorn that his sins are not expiated for him. "
4- The supplication at the end of every meeting. An authentic Hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmidhi that the prophet (SAW) said, "Whoever sits in a gathering which indulges in useless talk and before getting up supplicates: "Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, ash-hadu an la ilaika illa anta, astaghfirka wa atubu ilaika (Glory be to you, o Allah; praise be to you. I testify that none has the right to be worshiped but you in repentance),"he will be forgiven for (the sins he may have intentionally or unintentionally committed) in that assembly."
5- Performing the Wudu (ablution) perfectly. Imam Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "If anyone performs the ablution perfectly (i.e., according to sunnah), his sins will come out from his body, even from under his nails."
6- Performing the five daily prayers well and with humility. Imam Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "When the time for a prescribed As-salat (the prayers) approaches and a Muslim observes its ablution and acts of bowing and prostrating properly, this salat will be an expiation for his part sins, so long as he does not commit major sins, and this is for always."
7- Attending the Friday prayer and listening to the Khutbah without saying a word. Imam Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "If anyone performs ablution properly, then comes to the Friday prayer, listens to the Khutbah (Speech) attentively and keeps silent, his (minor) sins between that Friday and the previous Friday will be forgiven, with the addition of three more days; but he who touches pebbles has caused an interruption."
8- Fasting during the month of Ramadan and praying its night believing in Allah and seeking reward from Allah (SWT). Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan, out of sincerity of faith and in the hope of earning reward will have his past sins pardoned."
And also Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "He who observes optional prayer (Tarawih prayers) throughout Ramadan, out of sincerity of faith and in the hope of earning reward will have his past sins pardoned."
9- Praying the night of Al-Qadr. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "Whoever offers Qiyam during Lailat-ul-qadr (night of Decree), with Faith and being hopeful of Allah's reward, will have his former sins forgiven."
10- Fasting the day of Arafah. Imam Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said about fasting the day of Arafah "It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year."
11- Fasting the day of Ashura’. Imam Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said about fasting the day of A'shura' "It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year."
12- Performing Hajj and Umrah. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "Whoever performs Hajj (pilgrimage) and does not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commits sin, nor disputes unjustly (during Hajj), then he returns from Hajj as pure and free from sins as on the day on which his mother gave birth to him."
And also Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "(the performance of) 'Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between is and the previous 'Umrah; and the reward for Hajj mabrur (i.e., one accepted) is nothing but paradise."
13- Giving charity. In an authentic Hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmithi that the prophet (SAW) said: "The charity puts out the bad deed like the water puts out the fire."
14- Dhikru Allah (Remembring of Allah) (SWT). Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW.) said, "He who utters a hundred times in a day these words: 'la ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa huwa'ala kulli shay'in qadir (none has the right to be worshiped but Allah. He is one and he has no partner with him; he is the sovereignty and he is the praise, and he is omnipotent),' he will have a reward equivalent to that for emancipating ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be recorded to his credit, hundred of his sins with be blotted out from his scroll…"
And also Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (SAW) said, "And he who utters: 'Subhan-allahi wa bihamdihi (Glory be to Allah and his is the praise)' on hundred times a day, his sins will be obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the ocean. "
After saying all these Ahadith, we find how great the blessing of these righteous deeds and from its blessings is that Allah (SWT) wipes out the sins and elevates the believers to higher levels. So, we should all make a conscious effort to perform them and increase them so that we get closer to Allah and our sins are wiped out.
We ask Allah (SWT) to accept our good deeds and help us perfect our worship to Him. Aameen!
Note: SWT = Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala SAW
= Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam AS = AlehisSalam
RA
= Radhiyallaho anhu RAA =
Radhiyallaho anhum ajmaeen RAnha=
Radhiyallaho anha
Allahu akbar
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