No virtue is Insignificant

Ours is a small life that would end in a very short span of time. Though we are not sure when and how, there is a determined time for our return. We will have to go bidding adieu to all happiness, leaving all comforts and rejecting all relations. We have got very little time, in this trivial life – Seconds and Minutes! Offer good deeds as much as we can and be sincere in our deeds – If we have this quality in life, indeed we’ll be successful. There are many big things we can do and there are much more small things too. Those things which we tend to neglect anticipating as of no great importance, perhaps may lead us to great rewards. No deed is insignificant.

A hadith reported by Bukhari: “Indeed a servant will speak a word pleasing to Allah that he thinks to be insignificant, but because of it Allah raises him by many degrees. And indeed a servant will speak a word displeasing to Allah that he thinks to be insignificant, but because of it, He will consign him to the Hellfire.” ‘Miskaalu Dar’ ( مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ ) is the word used by Allah in Qura’n (99:7,8) to measure good and bad deeds. Scholars have described the meaning of ‘Miskaalu Dar’ as ‘a piece from an ant’s leg” or “a grit shimmering in the blazing hot sun”. Meaning, even if the measure of good or bad deed is of this quantity (‘Miskaalu Dar’), Allah will reward or punish us for it. Shouldn't these words from Allah make us more vigilant? Shouldn't it encourage us to utilize each and every moment in our life engaged in virtues and stay away from evils?

Not treating any virtue insignificant is a virtue by itself, however trivial it may look. Hadith Narated By Abu Dhar : I asked the Prophet, “What is the best deed?” He replied, “To believe in Allah and to fight for His Cause.” I then asked, “What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?” He replied, “The manumission of the most expensive slave and the most beloved by his master.” I said, “If I cannot afford to do that?” He said, “Help the weak or do good for a person who cannot work for himself.” I said, “If I cannot do that?” He said, “Refrain from harming others for this will be regarded as a charitable deed for your own good.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2518). Re-read the end of this Hadith. An instance where one is not doing any deed, still it is profitable, if he is living not harming any.

When Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that it’s a virtue meeting one’s brother with a cheerful face, he began it with the phrase “Do not belittle any good deed” (Riyadussaliheen Book 1, Hadith 121). He advices Abu Jurayy Al-Hujaymi in another Hadith: “Do not belittle any good deed, even if it is giving a piece of rope, giving a shoelace, pouring water from your bucket into the container of someone seeking water, removing something harmful from the road or path, meeting your brother with a cheerful face, greeting him with salaam or giving companionship to those who are lonely.”[Ahmad].

There can be many examples where very insignificant acts by us can cause for great benefit or loss for someone else. A cd, pamphlet, book we provide may be the turning point in another’s life. When these lines are written, many who do not know me and I do not know them will read this. They may get an inspiration from this article. My prayer is for it to be. Allah have kept rewards for each and everything that we do, even if we do not realize. When we do any deed, intention in our minds is very important. It’s the intentions that Allah will weigh, He looks in to it.

A hadith reported by Muslim from Abu musa Al-Asa’ri: Prophet told: “It is indispensable for every Muslim to give alms. The Prophet was asked: “But what happens if he has nothing to give?”. He said: “If he has nothing, he must do a work with his hand by which he obtains something and benefits himself and gives alms with the remainder”. The man asked: “But what happens if he is not able to do the work?”. Prophet replied: “Then he should assist the needy and the oppressed”. He was asked: “What happens if he is not able to assist the needy and the oppressed” He said: “Then he should exhort people to do good”. Another question: “And if he cannot?”. He said: “Then let him withhold himself from doing harm to people for verily that is as alms and charity for him ”

A very short life and very less time. Abundant opportunities to do good, equal opportunities to commit sins. We can decide what to do and how to live. Let our scale weigh with virtues. Shouldn't there be something to boldly answer when Allah asks “what did you do with your life?” Let the virtues flourish, rewards are waiting!!!