Simple Deeds, Great Rewards

Our Prophet ﷺ reminded us not to belittle any good deeds or action. One would never know if that particular act would be the reason for him achieving Allah’s pleasure & mercy.

 He ﷺ mentioned: 

عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ قَالَ قَالَ لِيَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لاَ تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ

“Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.” (Sahih Muslim 2626)

In another Hadith the messenger of Allah reminded us to do good deeds, no matter how small or insignificant in our eyes, as that could just very be the shield for us from hellfire. 

He ﷺ mentioned: 

‏عن عدي بن حاتم رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ‏اتَّقوا النَّار ولو بشِقِّ تمرةٍ فإنْ لم تجِدوا فبكلمةٍ طيِّبةٍ

“Guard yourselves against the Fire (of Hell) even if it be only with half a date-fruit (given in charity); and if you cannot afford even that, you should at least say a good word.” (Agreed upon in authenticity)

It is from Allah’s mercy that He has made certain forms of ibadah (acts of worship) appear simple and light from our perspective, but they present great rewards in the sight of Allah SWT. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for us Muslims to strive for the best in performing these acts, hoping that they will weigh heavily on our scale in the hereafter. Here are some of these simple deeds with great rewards: 

1. Testifying sincerely to the oneness of Allah.

The Prophet s.a.w said: 

فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ عَلَى النَّارِ مَنْ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ . يَبْتَغِى بِذَلِكَ وَجْهَ 

“Indeed Allah has forbidden for Hell the person who testifies: ‘There is nothing worthy of worship in truth (no true God) but Allah’, seeking thereby nothing but Allah’s Face (pleasure).” [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim]

2. Saying the following Doa Iftitah in your prayers.

اللهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلً

The Prophet s.a.w commented upon hearing a companion saying this doa,

 قَالَ: عَجِبْتُ لَهَا، فُتِحَتْ لَهَا أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ: فَمَا تَرَكْتُهُنَّ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ

“Amazing! The gates of heaven were opened for it!” Ibn Umar r.a said: “I’ve never left (this doa in prayers) since I heard what the messenger of Allah s.a.w said.” [Narrated by Muslim]

3. Making Dua for someone without them knowing.

The Prophet s.a.w said: 

وعن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه أنه سمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ ‏ “‏مَا مِنْ عَبدِ مُسلِمٍ يَدعُو لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهرِ الغَيبِ إِلاَّ قَالَ المَلِكُ وَلَكَ بِمِثل‏ٍ”‏

“Whenever a Muslim supplicates for his (Muslim) brother in his absence, the angels say: ‘May the same be for you too’.” [Narrated by Muslim]

4. Seeking forgiveness for the believing man & women by saying:

 اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِر لِلمُؤمِنِينَ وَالمُؤمِنَاتِ

The Prophet s.a.w said: 

عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَنِ اسْتَغْفَرَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَمُؤْمِنَةٍ حَسَنَةً»

“Whoever seeks forgiveness for every male and female believer, Allah will record a good deed for him for every male and female believer” [Sahih Al-Jaami’]

Say: 

 لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ

The Prophet s.a.w said: 

أَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى كَنْزٍ مِن كُنُوزِ الجَنَّةِ؟» فَقُلتُ: بَلَى يَا رَسُولُ اللهِ قَالَ: «لاَ حَولَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ» (متفق عليه)

“Shall I not guide you to a treasure from the treasures of Jannah?” I said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” Thereupon he (ﷺ) said, “(Recite) ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah’ (There is no change of a condition nor power except by Allah).” [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim]

Say:

 سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ

The Prophet s.a.w said:

(من قال‏:‏ سُبْحانَ اللَّهِ وبحَمدِهِ، غُرِستْ لهُ نَخْلَةٌ في الجَنَّةِ (رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن‏

“For him who says: ‘Subhan-Allahi wa bi hamdihi (Allah is free from imperfection, and I begin with praising Him, and to Him),’ a palm-tree will be planted in Jannah.” [Narrated by At-Tirmizi) 

And for those who recites it 100 times, The Prophet s.a.w said: 

مَنْ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ‏.‏ فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ حُطَّتْ خَطَايَاهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ

“Whoever says, ‘Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi,’ one hundred times a day, will be forgiven of all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]

Say:

 سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ الْعَظِيم

The Prophet s.a.w said: 

(كَلِمَتَانِ خَفِيفَتَانِ علَى اللِّسَانِ، ثَقِيلَتَانِ في المِيزَانِ، حَبِيبَتَانِ إلى الرَّحْمَنِ: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ العَظِيمِ . (متفق عليه

“There are two phrases that are dear to the Most Merciful, light on the tongue, and heavy on the scale: Glory and Praise be to Allah, Glory be to Allah, the Great.” [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim] 

Say: 

  سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ

The Prophet s.aw said that whoever says this three (3) times, he or she will be rewarded as if they had been worshiping Allah since Fajr until Mid-day. [Narrated by Abu Dawud]

5. Praying 2 Raka’at before Fajr.

The Prophet s.a.w said:

النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ “‏رَكعَتَا الفَجرِ خَيرٌ مِنَ الدُّنيَا وَمَا فِيْهَا‏”‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏

“The two Rak’ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains.” [Narrated by Muslim] 

6. Making Selawat (sending salutations & blessings) upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ صَلَاةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِهَا عَشْرًا

 “Whoever sends blessings upon me, Allah will send blessings upon him tenfold” (Sahih Muslim, 384).

May Allah make it easy upon us to perform these acts of Ibadah and may he increase us goodness in this world & the hereafter. Amin.