Introduction:

After a very detailed chapter about Iman, in the beginning of this book, it is now very important to shed some light upon another subject that is also attached to Iman and without which merely having Iman will be of no use - this subject is known as Amlay Saalayhat (righteous actions). Allah (عز و جل ) says:

“Do they then wait for anything other than that the angels should come to them, or that your Lord should come, or that some of the Signs of your Lord should come. The day that some of the Signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a person to believe then, if he believed not before, nor earned good (by performing deeds of righteousness) through his Faith. Say: "Wait you! We (too) are waiting."  [Al-Anam 6:158]

And:

“Who ever desires honour, power and glory, then to Allah belong all honour, power and glory. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it, but those who plot evils, theirs will be a severe torment. And the plotting of such will perish.” [Fatir 35:10]

Also:

“But whosoever comes To Him (Allah) as a believer (in the ones of Allah), and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter), ‘Adn’ (Paradise), under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, and such is the reward of those who purify themselves (by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden and by doing that Allah has ordained).” [Ta-Ha 20:75-76]

Also:

“Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah’s Cause, so they kill and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Taurat and the Injeel and the Quran. And who is truer to his convenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success. (The believers whose lives Allah has purchased are) those who repent to Allah, who worship Him, who praise Him, who fast (or go out in Allah's cause), who bow down (in prayer), who prostrate themselves (in prayer), who enjoin (people) for Al-Ma'roof and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar, and who observe the limits set by Allah (do all that Allah has ordained and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden). And give glad tidings to the believers.” [At-Tauba 9:111-112]

The meaning of Iman and its requirements must be clearly understood in order to be in complete submission to Allah (عز و جل ). We know that it is an obligation

upon every Muslim to reject the Taghoot and to negate all the aaliha (deities), in order to worship Allah Alone and for our worship to be accepted. However we must also understand that after Iman one must adorn their belief with actions such as Salat, Fasting, Hajj, Zakat etc… These actions are known as Amlay Saalayhat (righteous actions) which Allah (عز و جل ) talks about in the above Ayat.

In this chapter, a detailed explanation of these actions (Amlay Saalayhat) has been given. A collection of Ayat and ahadeeth have been used to show that without righteous actions, ones Iman will be incomplete and he will be a loser in the next life and his Shahadah which he pronounced from his tongue only will be of no use.

For example, after a person testifies the Shahadah from his tongue, but performs none of the righteous actions that have been made compulsory upon a Muslim by Allah (عز و جل ), such as five daily prayers performed at certain times then does this mean, his Iman will still be accepted or not?
Well, once he submits to Allah by proclaiming the Shahadah, and claiming to be a Muslim he is no longer at liberty to choose what is right or wrong from his own desires, for Allah has shown us a clear path through His Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) and it is only by following the Prophet’s foot steps that a Muslim will enter Al-Jannah.

We can see from the ahadeeth below that when people came to testify the shahadah to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) he would then command them to perform certain other actions which would aid them to fulfil their convenants with Allah and gain reward. These Amlay Saalayhat (righteous actions) include Salat, Zakat, Fasting, Jihad, Hijra, Listening and obeying to the Imam of Muslimeen, Giving bayah to the Khaleefah of the Muslimeen, being kind to ones parents, being generous, helping the needy, fighting in the way of Allah, etc.

A collection of Ahadeeth in regards to the relation between Shahadah, Iman and Amlay Saalayhat

Hadith One:

Narrated Talha bin Ubaidullah (رضي الله عنه ):

A man from Najd with unkempt hair came to Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) and we heard his loud voice but could not understand what he was saying, till he came near and then we came to know that he was asking about Islam. Allah’s Messenger said, “You have to perform five Salat (prayer) (Iqamat-as-Salat) perfectly in a day and night (24 hours).” The man asked, “Are there any more Salat upon me?” ‘Allah’s Messenger replied’, “No, but if you want to perform the Nawafil Salat (prayers) (you can).” Allah’s Messenger further said to him: “You have to observe Saum (fasts) during the month of Ramadan.” Then man asked, “Are there any other (more) fasting upon me?” Allah’s Messenger replied, “No, but if you want to observe the Nawafil fasts (you can)”. Then Allah’s Messenger further said to him, “You have to pay the Zakat.” The man asked, “Is there any thing other (than the Zakat) for me to pay?” Allah’s Messenger replied, “No, unless you want to give alms of your own.” And then that man retreated saying, “By Allah! I will neither do less nor more than this. Allah’s Messenger said, “If what he said is true, then he will be successful (i.e. he will be granted Paradise).”
[Reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 44, Vol. 1]

Hadith Two:

Narrated Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه ):
A man said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Inform me of a deed which will make me enter Paradise.” The people said, “What is the matter with him? What is the matter with him?” Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) said, “He has something to ask (what he needs greatly).” The Prophet said (to him), “(In order to enter Paradise) you should worship Allah and join none in worship with Him; you should perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), pay the Zakat, and keep good relations with your kith and kin.” He then said, “Leave it!”
The sub narrator said, “It seems that the Prophet was riding his she-camel.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 12, Vol.8]

Hadith Three:

Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه ):
A Bedouin came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) and said: “Tell me of such a deed as will make me enter Paradise, if I do it.” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) said, “Worship Allah, and worship none along with Him, perform the prescribed compulsory As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), pay the compulsory Zakat and observe Saum (fasts) in the month of Ramadan.” The Bedouin said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul (life) is, I will not do more than this,”

When he (the Bedouin) left, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) said, “Whoever likes to see a man of Paradise, then he may look at this man.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No.480, Vol.2]

Hadith Four:

Narrated ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه ):
Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) said, “Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):

1. To testify that La ilaha illAllah wa anna Muhammad ar Rasool Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).
2. Iqamat-as-Salat [To perform the (compulsory congregational) Salat (prayers)].
3. To pay the Zakat.
4. To perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah).
5. To observe Saum (fasts) during the month of Ramadan.

[Sahih Al-Buikhari, Hadith No.7, Vol.1]

Hadith Five:

Narrated ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه ) that when the delegation of the tribe of Abdul Qais came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ), He asked them, “Who are the people (i.e. you)? (or) who are the delegates?” They replied, “We are from the tribe of Rabi’a.” Then the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) said to them, “Welcome! O people (or oh delegation of Abdul Qais)! Neither will you have disgrace nor will you regret.” They said, “O Allah’s Messenger, we cannot come to you except in the sacred month and there is the infidel tribe of Mudar intervening between you and us. So please order us to do something good (religious deeds) so that we may inform our people whom we have left behind (at home), and that we may enter Paradise (by acting on them).” Then they asked about drinks (what is legal and what is illegal).

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) ordered them to do four things and forbade them from four things. He ordered them to believe in Allah Alone and asked them, “Do you know what is meant by believing in Allah Alone?” They replied, “Allah and His Messenger knows better.” Thereupon the Prophet said, “It means:

1. To testify that “La ilaha illAllah wa anna Muhammad ar Rasool Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad, is the Messenger of Allah).
2. To perform as-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat).
3. To pay the Zakat.
4. To observe Saum (fasts) during the month Ramadan.
5. And to pay Al-Khumus (one fifth of the booty to be given in Allah’s Cause).”

Then he forbade them four things, namely Hantam, Ad-Dubba, An-Naqir and Al-Muzaffat or Al-Muqaiyar; (these were the names of posts in which alcholic drinks were prepared). (The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) mentioned the containers of wine and he meant the wine itself).
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) further said (to them): “Memorize them (these instructions) and convey them to the people whom you have left behind.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No.50, Vol.1]

Hadith Six:

Narrated ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه ):
Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) said, “I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people till they testify that La ilaha illAllah wa anna Muhammad ar Rasool Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad, is the Messenger of Allah) and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, so if they perform all that, then they save their lives and properties from me except for Islamic Laws, and then their reckoning (accounts) will be with Allah.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 24, Vol. 1]
Hadith Seven:

Narrated Abu Musa (رضي الله عنه ):
Some people asked Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم ), “Whose Islam is the best? (i.e. Who is a very good Muslim?)” He (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) replied, “One who avoids harming the Muslims with his tongue and hands.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 10, Vol. 1]

Hadith Eight:

Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه ): Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) said, “Whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his

neighbour, and whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously and whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet (i.e. abstain from all kinds of evil and dirty talk e.g. abusing, lying, backbiting etc.).”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 47, Vol. 8]

Hadith Nine:

Narrated Abu Shuraih Al-Adawi (رضي الله عنه ):
My ears heard and my eyes saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) when he spoke, “Whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his neighbour generously, and whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should serve his guest generously by giving him his reward.” It was asked, “What is his reward, O Allah’s Messenger”. He said (صلى الله عليه و سلم ), “(To be entertained generously) for a day and a night with high quality of food, and the guest has the right to be entertained for three days (with ordinary food) and if he stays longer, what he will be provided with, will be regarded as Sadaqa (a charitable gift). And whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet (i.e. abstain from all kinds of dirty and evil talks e.g. abusing, lying, backbiting etc.).”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 48, Vol. 8]

A collection of Ayat in regards to Iman and Amlay Saalayhat

1. Reward for doing Amlay Saalihat is Paradise:

In the following Ayat, Allah (عز و جل ) has explained for the true Muslimeen (those who have iman) that when they perform Amlay Saalayhat after having iman and declaring the Shahadah, their final destination will be Al-Jannah where they will stay for ever and this will be their reward from Allah (عز و جل ) for His righteous worshippers. Allah (عز و جل ) says:

“And give glad tidings to those who believe (have iman) and do Amlay Saalayhat(righteous good deeds), that for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise). Every time they will be provided with a fruit there from, they will say: “This is what we were provided with before,” and they will be given things in resemblance (i.e. in the same form but different in taste) and they shall have therein Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives) and they will abide therein forever.” [Al-Baqarah 2:25]

And:

“But those who have iman and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), we shall admit them to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), abiding therein forever. Therein they shall have Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified

mates/wives), and we shall admit them to shades wide and ever deepening.” [An-Nisa 4:57]

And:

“And those who believe and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), they are dwellers of Paradise, they will dwell therein forever.” [Al-Baqarah 2:82] 

And:

“Allah has promised those who have iman and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), that for them is forgiveness and a great reward (Paradise).” [Al-Maidah 5:9]

And:
     “Verily, those who have iman, and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), their Lord will guide them through their Faith; under them will flow rivers in the Gardens of delight (Paradise).” [Yunus 10:9]

And:

“Verily, those who believe (have iman), and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), and humble themselves (in repentance/obedience) before their Lord, they will be dwellers of Paradise to dwell therein forever.”[Hud 11:23]

And:

“Those who believed, and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), Taubaa (all kinds of happiness or name of a tree in Paradise) is for them and a beautiful place of (final) return.” [Ar-Rad 13:29]

And:

“And those who believed, and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein

forever (i.e. in Paradise), with the Permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be Salam (peace!).” [Ibrahim 14:23]

And:

“Verily, those who believe and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds),
the Most Gracious (Allah) will bestow love for them (in the hearts of
the believers).” [Maryam 19:96]

And:

“Truly, Allah will admit those who believe and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), to Gardens underneath which rivers flow (in Paradise), wherein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls and their garments therein will be of silk.” [Al-Hajj 22:23]

And:

“That is (the Paradise) whereof Allah gives glad tidings to His worshippers who believe and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds). Say; (O Muhammad): “No reward do I ask of you for this except to be kind to me for my kinship with you.” And whoever earns a good righteous deed, We shall give him in increase of good in respect thereof. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most ready to appreciate (the deeds of those who are obedient to Him).” [Ash-Shura 42:23]

2. Amlay Saalayhat to be done with Ihsan (Perfection):

It is also very important to perform Amlay Saalayhat(righteous good deeds), purely for the sake of Allah(عز و جل ) and with total devotion and upon the way shown by Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم ). Only then will our good deeds be accepted as Allah(عز و جل ) says in the following collection of Ayat:

“Those who believe and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), there is no sin on them for what they ate (in the past), if they fear Allah (by keeping away from His forbidden things), and believe and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), and again fear Allah and believe, and once again fear Allah and do good deeds with Ihsan (perfection). And Allah loves the good-doers.” [Al-Maidah 5:93]

And:

 “Verily as for those who believed and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), certainly We shall not make the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner to be lost.” [Al-Kahf 18:30]

Also:

“Those who believe, and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), surely, We shall expiate from them their evil deeds and shall reward them according to the best of that which they used to do.” [Al-Ankabut 29:7]

And:

“But those who believe and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), and believe in that which is sent down to Muhammad for it is the truth from their Lord – He will expiate from them their sins, and will make good their state.” [Muhammad 47:2]

And:

“By Al-Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss. Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one another to patience.” [Al-Asr 103]
                                                                                                  

3. Warning of the Punishment for those who do not perform Amlay Saalayhat:

Allah warns mankind that without the performance of Amlay Saalayhat(righteous good deeds) only punishment is available in the hereafter. This includes the disbelievers (kuffar) in general and also those people who claim to be Muslims (merely by name) and perform none of the duties ordained by Allah such as Salat, Zakat, Jihad, Hijra, etc.

“Except those who believe and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), and remember Allah much, and reply back (in poetry) to the unjust poetry (which the pagan poets utter against the Muslims) And those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned.” [Ash-Shu’ara 26:227]
And:

“So, as for those who believed and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), He will give them their (due) rewards- and more out of His Bounty. But as for those who refused His worship and were proud, He will punish them with a painful torment. And they will not find for themselves besides Allah any protector or helper.” [An-Nisa 4:173]

And:

“To Him is the return of all of you. The Promise of Allah is true. It is He Who begins the creations and then will repeat it, that He may reward with justice those who believed and did Amlay Saalayhat(righteous good deeds). But those who disbelieved will have a drink of boiling fluids and painful torment because they used to disbelieve.” [Yunus 10:4]

Also:

          “Then, verily! Your Lord – for those who do evil (commit sins/disobedient to Allah) in ignorance and afterwards repent and do righteous deeds, verily, your Lord thereafter, (to such) is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” [An-Nahl 16:119]
                                         
And:

“And not equal are the blind and those who see; nor are (equal) those who believe, and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), and those who do evil. Little do you remember!” [Ghafir 40:58]

And:

“And He answers (the invocation of) those who believe and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), and gives them increase of His Bounty. And as for the disbelievers, theirs will be a severe torment.” [Ash-Shura 42:26]

And:

“Or do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe and do Amlay Saalayhat (righteous good deeds), in their present life and after death? Worst is the judgment that they make.” [Al-Jathiya 45:21]