Various Acts of Obedience - Do Not Despise Any Righteous Deed

[Muhammad Said Ramadan Al-Bouti (Arabic: مُحَّمَد سَعِيد رَمَضَان ٱلْبُوطِي, romanized: Muḥammad Saʿīd Ramaḍān al-Būṭī) (1929 – 21 March 2013) was a renowned Syrian Sunni Muslim scholar, writer and professor, where he was vice dean in the Damascus University and served as the imam of the Umayyad Mosque.

Al-Bouti wrote more than sixty books on Islamic law and theology. He was a leading figure of Islamic neo-traditionalism which adhered to the four schools of thought in Sunni Islam and the orthodox Ash'arite creed.His works have been highly regarded to be a pivotal defense of Sunni Islam against opposing ideologies such as Secularism, Marxism, and Nationalism along with reformist movements of Wahhabism and Islamic Modernism.

On 21 March 2013, al-Bouti was assassinated at the Al-Iman Mosque in Damascus. The circumstances around the event are still unclear.]

Do not despise any righteous deed that you do, even if it seems small in your eyes. It could be the reason for your entry into paradise. And do not belittle committing any sin that you do, as it could be the cause of your entry into the Hellfire. So, strive to engage in all types of righteous deeds, for you do not know which one will be the cause of your eternal happiness. It has been narrated that a man entered paradise by removing a branch of a tree from the path.

And you, O Muslim, may say a word or offer advice to someone, and it could be the means of their guidance and bring happiness to them in this world and the Hereafter. And you will also find happiness in it throughout your life.

So, do not despise a righteous deed, even if it seems small in your eyes. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Fear the Hellfire, even if it is with half a date." (Agreed upon)1

Every righteous deed in Islam is great, so engage in various righteous deeds and strive to be consistent in them, even if the quantity of your deeds in a specific type is small. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are done consistently, even if they are few in number." (Agreed upon)2 Beware of all paths of disobedience, as you do not know which one will lead you into the fire. It has been narrated that a woman entered the Hellfire because she had mistreated a cat. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "A woman was punished on account of a cat which she held captive till it died. Hence, she entered the Hellfire due to (her mistreatment of) the cat. She did not feed it or give it water while she held it captive, nor did she let it out so that it may eat the things that creep on the earth." (Agreed upon).1

So, follow the path of generosity, good ethics, good manners, cheerfulness, serving others, speaking the truth, fulfilling promises, and righteously dealing with financial matters. Engage in every avenue of goodness.

Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "The one who is truly devoted to worship does not have a specific goal in his worship that he prioritizes over others. Rather, his goal is to seek the pleasure of Allah, and his worship is based on that. He constantly progresses in servitude, moving from one level to another, continuously striving. If you see the scholars, you will find him with them. If you see the worshippers, you will find him with them. If you see the warriors in the path of Allah, you will find him with them. And if you see those who remember Allah, you will find him with them. If you see the charitable and righteous, you will find them with them."2

Refences:

1 Narrated by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Zakat, Chapter on Beware of the Fire, Even with Half a Date and a Small Amount of Charity, Hadith No. 1417, and by Muslim in the Book of Zakat, Chapter on Encouragement to Give Charity, Even with Half a Date or a Good Word, as It Acts as a Barrier from the Fire, Hadith No. 1016, from the narration of Adi bin Hatim, may Allah be pleased with him.

2 Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Book of Al-Riqaq, Chapter on Intention and Consistency in Actions, Hadith number (6464), and Muslim, Book of Prayer of Travelers and Shortening It, Chapter on the Virtue of Consistently Performing Night Prayers and Others, Hadith number

(783), from the narration of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her.

1 Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Book of Watering, Chapter on the Virtue of Giving Water, Hadith number (2365), and Muslim, Book of Peace, Chapter on the Prohibition of Killing Cats, Hadith number (2242), from the narration of Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him.

2 Madarij al-Salikin" (111/1)