The Best Deeds in the Best Days #02 of a Dhul Hijjah Series

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Assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu

rhodo Billahi min ash shaytani r rajim Bismillah R Rahman r Rahim wa Salatu was Salam ala rasulillah al Karim rubbish roughly Sabri were Siddeley emri wash Luca melissani yufka. Who Kohli along my dear Colby was sadly Sonny was ruled Sufi motto Colby Armenia roble aalameen

Allah Hu Akbar Allah who acabo de la ilaha illa Allah who Allahu Akbar, Allah who acabo Wali, Allah Hill hand. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam taught us that in these days of the year, the first 10 days of the month of the hedger, we should increase in declaring the oneness of Allah, the greatness of Allah and also the praise of Allah azza wa jal.

So, that could be a lot the the words of Allah's glory or, or to to proclaim the greatness of Allah. These words we see that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam taught us many different ways of proclaiming the greatness of Allah. So for example, what I just read before you, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allah is the Greatest Allah is the Greatest La ilaha illa Allahu Allahu Akbar. There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. Allahu Akbar, Allah is the Greatest well, Illa he'll hand and for Allah is all praise. We also learn Allahu Akbar, Kabira Allah is the greatest, most great when hamdulillah he cathedra praise is to Allah abundantly was Subhana

Allah He book ratangarh sila, and Glory be to Allah in the morning. And in the evening. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, WA Leela Hill hand, Allahu akbar wa jal, Allah who acabo or Allah Maha Donna, Allah is the Greatest Allah is the Greatest Allah is the Greatest for Allah is all praise. Allah is the greatest and most grand. We proclaim Allah's greatness because he is the one who has guided us. Allah who a kebab Kabira Allahu Akbar caboodle Allah Allahu akbar wa jal Allahu Akbar, WA Lila Hill hummed Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar. Kabira Allah whom and to Allah. What a gentle lumen and takuna laka Sahiba. O Allah, you are the highest and the most grant that

from ever having a partner, meaning you're too high. You're too great to even have a partner. Oh, you're Khun ella cahuilla de ojo, Kunal, aka Sheree can feel milk, or that you should have a child or an equal in your dominion. Oh yo Kunal aka Willie human a duel, or that you should have a protector out of weakness? No, yeah, Allah, you are the greatest Allah homophone Lana Allahumma Hamner, or Allah forgive us, or Allah have mercy on us. So in these days, we all need to increase in reciting tuck be rot. We especially declare the greatness the glory of Allah azza wa jal in these days. The question is, why do we proclaim the greatness of Allah? What is the purpose? What is the

benefit? Is it is this just a statement that we utter with our mouths? Any is it

just you know, words that we have to say with our mouths and just be, you know done with with saying them. No, these are not empty words these are not mere statements. Rather, when we proclaim the greatness of Allah subhanaw taala we are affirming a belief that we have about Allah subhanaw taala we are affirming a mindset, a perspective that shapes our thoughts, that shapes our words, our actions, and our behaviors, any these are not just words that we declare for the sake of just earning some good deeds. These are words that influence our thought patterns. These are words that are supposed to influence our behaviors, our actions. So why is it that we keep saying that Allah is

the Greatest that Allah is the most great that there is no one greater than Allah? Why are we always saying this? If you think about it, even in Salah, we said, Allah come up so many times, when the event is pronounced again, Allahu Akbar is declared over and over again, after Salah also, we say Allahu Akbar so many times, and in these days, whether we are at Hajj, or we are at home, we are supposed to declare the greatness of Allah. So how is it that these words influence our beliefs, our actions, our behaviors? How are we supposed to internalize these words, you see, when we believe and when we know that our Lord Allah, or zildjian, is the greatest, then this means that when we are

afraid, then we realize that safety and security is with the greatest one.

That help is with who the greatest one, he is the one who is able to protect us, He is the one who is able to bring us out of the difficulty that we find ourselves in. And when we have a need, that we want fulfilled, then when we believe in the fact that Allah is the Greatest, then we remember that the fulfillment of our needs is also with who with the greatest one, he is the one for whom, though you know, it is not hard, it is not difficult to fulfill our needs, because he is the greatest one. And when we need to rely on someone, then when we believe that Allah is the Greatest, then we will rely on who on the greatest one on an acrobat. And when we need to ask for a favor,

when we need to ask for help. When we believe that Allah is the Greatest, we will turn to who to, to the greatest one to Allah azza wa jal, there are times in our lives, when we need a strong, reliable support, that we can really hold on to, that we can really, you know, put our faith in, that we know that this support is here, and we are not alone. And if we put that faith in the creation, then of course, there's going to be disappointment. So at these times, we need to remember that Allah is the Greatest, so we should rely on who on the greatest one, because when Allah is the Greatest, then this means that every great person and every great being and every great thing is small, before

Allah azzawajal Allah is greater than that. Because you see, over over, you know, the course of our lives, you know, through experience, we realize that, you know, certain people are more reliable, or certain ways are, are more effective, you know, in, in helping ourselves in bringing ourselves out of trouble. You know, some people think that in order to, you know, be safe and secure, they need money. Other people think that in order to be safe and secure, they need a solid career. Other You know, there are people who think that they need a strong, you know, friend circle, they need social support. So whatever it is that we rely upon, you know, there are those times in our lives when

Allah subhanaw taala shows us their reality, that they're not perfect, that they are not great that they are not able to always help us. So who is always able to help us? It is the one who is the greatest ally.

So when Allah subhanaw taala is the greatest and we believe in this fact. This is the reason why we say in every Salah that a year can Norbu what a year can us 13 that it is you alone that we worship Europe and you alone, that we seek help from. When we realize the greatness of the greatest one, then we realize our own imperfection and the imperfection of the of the creation. We begin to see ourselves and we also begin to see the creation as a truly is, it is weak, it is fallible, it is imperfect. And it is it is not hard, then it is not difficult, then to lower our heads before Allah subhanaw taala. When we realize that Allah is the Greatest, then it's easy to put our head on the

ground, it is easy to worship Allah subhana wa Tada. In fact, we experience joy in lowering ourselves before Allah the greatest. So what do we learn then, when Allah subhanaw taala is the greatest and we keep proclaiming the glory, the greatness of Allah, then we need to remember that when we are troubled by something that frightens us, that drowns us in worries, and when something, you know, makes us sad, and causes us to cry, and our ears, our eyes begin to, you know, wander to the right and to the left, that who is it that I can find? Who is it that I can, you know, find that can listen to me, who will understand me, who will bring me relief, then remember, no matter who we

turn to, they cannot bring us relief, we will only find success when we turn to the greatest one. When we turn to the one who is a kaboom. Allah a kebab. When we rely on a person, and they disappoint us, they fall short because of their weakness, they leave because of their mortality, then realize that we need the greatest one who will never ever leave us. You see, no matter how much we love someone, no matter how helpful they may be, no matter how, how much comfort and joy we find in their company. The fact is that people cannot always be there. our parents, our own children, our own friends, our own siblings, they cannot always be there, whether they like it or they don't, one

day they have to leave us and one day we have to leave them. Sometimes people leave by choice, and sometimes they leave because of life circumstances. So Allah azza wa jal is always there for us. He will never ever leave us because he is the greatest one. Allah subhanaw taala is the greatest. So he is able to open closed doors for us. He is able to remove hurdles from our paths. Sometimes, you know, we we were trying to do something and people in their maliciousness. Basically, they deliberately tried to harm us. They deliberately try to create hurdles for us. They don't want good for us. You you ask them for cooperation, and they refuse to cooperate with you. They In fact, close

open doors for you. Remember that Allah the greatest one, he is able to open all closed doors for you. He is able to remove hurdles from your way. And when sometimes when we go to people, they reject us, they ignore us. They're too busy to attend to us. They have no interest, no benefit in listening to us, Allah azza wa jal, his door is always open for us, and He invites us in our time of need that come to me, I will answer you ask me and I will answer you. So we need to think that Do I have any need that that I want fulfilled? Do I need some help? Do I need forgiveness? Am I in need of growth? Am I need off? You know, my, the, you know the obstacles in my path to be removed? Do I

need ease? And if we're honest with ourselves, we are all needy. So who is it that is able to

open these doors for us and who is able to forgive us? And who is able to provide us the help that we need? It is Allah, the greatest one. And you see, the thing with people also is that you ask them for a favor today. And if you ask them again, you know, you hesitate. And if you have to ask them a third time, you feel horrible, you feel really bad in your heart. And, you know, there are people who don't hesitate asking others for favors. So they will ask again and again. So people then have to scold them that what is wrong with you. You asked me yesterday, and then you asked me again. And now again, you know, you're bothering me, people get tired of listening to us of responding to us.

But remember, no matter how many needs you have, Allah, the greatest one is never tired of you. He never says that you asked me in the morning, and you asked me in the evening, and you asked me yesterday. And now again, you are asking me Have you got no shame? No, Allah subhanaw taala does not treat us like that. When we complain to people, even if we're not asking them for a favor. We're just asking them to listen to us to validate our feelings. Even then, people get tired. They don't want to listen to our complaints. Again, and again. They get sick of us, they begin to avoid us. They refuse to make eye contact with us, you know, they show with their facial expressions that

they're not interested in having that conversation in listening to us. You see your own children, even if your own children repeatedly nag you for something, you tell them to be quiet. You tell them to you know Stop being so demanding. You tell them to, you know, just go away. So, this is this is the reality of people, we reject people and people reject us. We get tired of people and people get tired of us. Allah azza wa jal does not reject us. Allah azza wa jal does not get tired of us, because he is the greatest one. He rejoices when we ask him, he is happy to give us when we are in need. And the reality of people, you ask them for favors, they will get tired. Allah azza wa jal, he

continues to give. He continues to bestow, he continues to forgive, he continues to listen to his slaves and to respond to their calls. So remember, Allah is the Greatest, so turn to him. Ask him, think of him. beg him for whatever that you are in need of. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah wa Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Willa Hill hunt. So in these days, as you recite that, that pirot think about all the struggles that you faced in your life. Think about all the challenges that you have all the needs that you have any any need big or small. Recall that think about that and turn to Allah subhanaw taala that Allah you are the greatest one. You are able to protect me. You

are able to heal me. You are able to create ease for me. You are able to grant me strength. You are able to open these doors for me. You are able to put shifa healing for me in the medication that I'm taking. Yeah, Allah, you are the greatest one. Allahu Akbar, Allah como la ilaha illallah wa Allahu Akbar. And, as you say, the Turkish Lira, say them out loud. Remind one another, encourage your children. These are days of proclaiming Allah's greatness. So increase in Turkey rot. Now, in these days, of course, we also need to think about what are the different deeds that we can do different good deeds that we can do. Because, as we learned yesterday, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wasallam

encouraged us in so many different ways, by by telling us that a good deed performed in these days is more beloved to Allah, it is more virtuous, it is greater, it is pure, it is more rewardable. So the question is that, why should we busy ourselves in good deeds anyway? Or rather, why should we be concerned about performing the best deeds anyway? Any, is it not enough to do just the bare minimum? Or is it not enough to just continue you know, the way that we are right now? Why

Do we increase in in doing the deeds and why should we learn about the best deeds? Why? You see Allah subhanaw taala himself tells us in the Quran that sabby qu il amo filati Mira become withdrawn nothing out aloha Carl this summer you will

read that Lil levina amanu Billa he will sue Lee Valley kofod Lula he de Manisha will la hudl fog Lila Aleem Allah subhanaw taala tells us that race to word forgiveness from your Lord, and a garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and the earth, Allah subhana wa tada is telling us that we should race toward forgiveness, that we should not delay, we should not be lazy, we should not hesitate we should not stall, we should not procrastinate. We should race to word, those actions that bring us forgiveness from Allah subhanaw taala. So this shows us that we need to increase in our good deeds, we need to accelerate the speed, we need to increase the quality, the quantity, and

the variety. Why so that we can get forgiveness from Allah subhanaw taala. Because the fact is, that all of us make mistakes, all of us fall short in our duty to Allah in our duty to, you know, the creation of Allah. So we are all in need of forgiveness. So when we excel in doing good deeds, what do we receive, we receive forgiveness from Allah subhanaw taala. And raised to word a garden, meaning paradise, whose width is like the width of the heavens and the earth, meaning excel in doing good deeds, so that you can enter Jannah do good deeds, so that you can enter Paradise, and Paradise is vast, it is massive. And the rewards that a person will get in paradise are related to the kind

of actions that they use to perform. If you think about it, when it comes to worldly matters, we never settle with less, we never settle with, you know, with what is mediocre. If we know that there is a bigger house, if we know that that house has a bigger kitchen, that it has bigger better appliances, that it has a better garden, it has a better driveway, it has a bigger garage, it has a bigger basement, it is in a better neighborhood, it cetera, you know, when we find out about, you know, things that are better, that are greater if even if we cannot afford it, at least we wish for it. At least we desire it. If we know that, you know there's a better deal out there. We want it,

you know, even if we don't need it. So when it comes to dunia when it comes to temporary things, we know that we cannot settle with what we have. We always need home improvements. We always need you know in an improvement in you know, in our clothing connected in our clothing collection, etc. We're always concerned about increasing and becoming better in worldly standards. If it's worldly education even we know that if we, you know had you know, got a degree 10 years ago. Now it's about time that we update that, you know we we do something else and we add that to our LinkedIn. So when it comes to dunya, we know that we cannot settle with how we are. What about the orchestra which is

permanent, which is eternal? Allah subhanaw taala is encouraging us over here. Race toward forgiveness, race toward a garden, whose width is like the width of the heavens and the earth, but it is prepared for who it is prepared for those who have believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah, which he gives to whom He wills and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. Allah azza wa jal has huge treasures, huge rewards that he can bestow. So Allah subhanaw taala has a lot to give. The question is what do you want? How much reward do you want? So we should always think about you know, going forward becoming better increasing in our righteous actions. Allah

subhanaw taala tells us festival cool hi rod, so raised to all that is good. Raise to all that is good. Any don't just settle

With the few good deeds that you are doing, think about how you can improve them, how you can increase them what other good deeds you can perform. Allah subhanaw taala tells us we're Sadie through enamel filati mirror become what Jeanette in our will do has some eyewear too well old, or a dirty little motor pin pain, and hasten to forgiveness from your Lord. And a garden as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous. hasten to forgiveness. Again, don't delay, don't procrastinate, don't settle with less fulfilled rule Illa Allah, so flee to Allah, any we should be running, we should be striving hard in increasing our good deeds in earning the approval of Allah

subhanaw taala. Because those who, who believe and those who don't, those who know and those who don't, those who do something, and those who don't, are not equal, there is a difference between those who believe and those who don't. There is a difference between those who know and those who don't. There is a difference between those who do those who act and those who don't. Think about it. For a person who recites a page of the Quran, every letter that they recite, they earn 10 good deeds, are they equal in reward to the person who does not recite a page of the Quran? There is a difference. So, Allah subhanaw taala reminds us of the virtue of those people who excel in doing

good deeds. Allah subhanaw taala tells us in the Quran, some Allah Snell kita ballerinas toffee Stephane Amina Reba, Dena, Framingham lolly, Molina sihi women whom looked us like women home sabich on bill hierarchy, the evening Allah valleca, who will follow cubbies, then we cost to inherit the book, those we have chosen of our servants, and among them meaning among the people who have the Quran among the people who believe in the Quran is He Who wrongs himself in he commits sin, and he wrongs himself, he does not allow himself to do good to increase in goodness. So he is harming himself. And among them is He who is moderates, and he just doing the bare minimum, just doing what

is enough to get by. So among them is He who is moderate, and among them is He who is foremost in good deeds by permission of Allah. Any there's three types of people, when it comes to doing good, there's three types of people. First, those people who don't, who don't bother, who know what they can do, but they don't bother them, there are those people who just do the bare minimum. And then there are those people who are eager to do good and who keep increasing in doing good and they get ahead of others, they are foremost in good deeds, but that is by permission of Allah. That is by the help of Allah. Allah subhanaw taala says the valleca who will follow Kebede that is what is the

great bounty, any such people truly have a huge favor in it, they will get great rewards, because they're foremost in good deeds. We learn that people who are ahead of others in good deeds, they will be at the forefront on the day of judgment as well, they will be ahead of others on the day of judgment as well. Think about it, if there's a you know, a basketball game, and you want to sit right in the front, you want the front seats, right within the first five rows or something. I mean, of course that's going to be really expensive, right? So there are people who who want to get those front seats and they will pay for it. And then there are people who are just happy to sit anywhere,

you know, they will sit all the way in the back and they you know they're okay with that because, you know, they don't want to spend too much. But if you get to sit in the front, what you get to see is different from what those are the back are going to see the level of your enjoyment is going to be far different. Right The convenience, the privilege that you have, is is far different. Allah subhanaw taala tells us was sabya coolness Serbia Khun Ola ecal macabre boon on the Day of Judgment, the foreigners will be the foreigners. Those are the ones brought near, meaning those who are ahead in doing good deeds on the day of Judge

But they will be ahead of others as well. How they will be brought near Allah subhanaw taala they will be closest to Allah soprano authority. And don't we all want that privilege that we are closest to Allah subhanaw taala. So it is not enough that we just wish for that closeness. And we, you know, imagine that that success on the Day of Judgment, yes, we need to wish for it. And yes, we should imagine that. But we also need to strive towards that. How do we strive towards that? By increasing in our good deeds, by improving the quality, the quantity of our good deeds, because this is prophetic behavior. This is the way of the prophets This is prophetic character. Allah subhanaw

taala tells us about the prophets of Allah alayhi wa sallam that in the home can Will you sell your own a Phil hi rods. Indeed, they used to hasten to do good deeds. And he they wouldn't delay. They wouldn't settle with less, where their owner now Robin what Ahava? What can Alana ha Shireen, and they would supplicate us in hope and fear. And they were to us, humbly submissive. So if we want to be in the footsteps of the prophets of Allah, we also need to hasten in doing good deeds, we need to increase in doing good deeds. And we see this in the companions or the alohomora at home, that there were so eager in, in doing good deeds, and in competing basically, that when they found out that

someone was performing a certain good deed, they were also eager to perform that good deed. So we learn from a from on the authority of Abu Dhabi, Allahu anhu. He said that it was said to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, that all messenger of Allah, those who have wealth have surpassed us in reward. And he, the wealthy people have gotten ahead of us in terms of reward, because they say the same as we do. And they spend, but we do not spend. So in other words, they pray we pray, they make because we make the kids, right. They believe we believe, right, this sensor that's on you, we sense a lot on you. Right? They say the other and we say the other and they

answered, you know the other and we also respond to the call of the other, but they have an advantage over us because they have wealth, and we don't. So that wealth they spend, and because of that they earn rewards, but we don't have that wealth, and we are not able to spend that. So we're missing out on that reward. Look at how the companions were, you know, this bothered them, right? This this pinched them, that we are not able to do certain good deeds, so we are missing out in terms of reward. So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, shall I not tell you something, which if you do it, you will catch up with those who are ahead of you.

If you do this good deed, then you will catch up with those who have surpassed you, and you will excel over those who come after you. So what are so what exactly is this good deed? Or what exactly is this action that you can do? The prophets of Allah who already sent him explained that you say Alhamdulillah, after every Salah, and you say Subhana Allah, and you say Allahu Akbar, also, how many times 33 times each. And for Allah say that 34 times each. If you do this consistently after every Salah, then you will catch up with those who are ahead of you.

So the Sahaba were eager, they wanted to know how they could increase in their good deeds, and by that how they could increase in their rewards. And we learn about so many holidays in which you know, the companions would ask the Prophet sallallahu, or to send them about the various good deeds that they could perform. So for example, within about a man asking the Prophet sallallahu earlier, send them a messenger of Allah, tell me about a deed that will admit me into paradise. I want to know about a good deed which I will do, which if I do, I will, I know that I will enter Paradise I want to know about that deed about the key to paradise. And the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam

replied, that in them in Mooji, battlemat filati meaning of those deeds which necessarily bring about forgiveness, and it is only after forgiveness that a person can enter Paradise. So of those deeds

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saying the salon meaning greeting people with Salon and speaking well to people, any, you know, talking to people in a good way. These are actions these are deeds that will lead you to paradise. And then we see that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam also, he would encourage the companions to those deeds, which which brought the most reward, which were easy to do, and also that brought the most reward. So, for example, we learn that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, that should I not inform you of the best of your deed and the purest of them with your master and the highest of them in your ranks? And what is better for you than spending gold and silver and better

for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks and they strike your next any? Should I not tell you about the best of the best? And the Sahaba said, Yes, of course. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, Victrola hater Allah, the remembrance of Allah Most High. So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam also directed the companions to those deeds which brought the most reward. In another Hadees we learned on the authority of God or the love marinha. She said that one would that one morning, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam went out after the budget of prayer. And God Ile de la Horton has said that she was sitting in her place of worship, in the place where

she had prayed. And the Prophet sallallahu already said and then returned in before noon, meaning after a while, he came back, and when he came back, he found her sitting in the same place. So the Prophet salallahu earnings and I'm asked her that have you been sitting here the entire time? Any since I left after budget until now, you've been here this entire time, and Duany it'll dilla Mourinho said yes. So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said that since leaving you, I have said three times certain phrases, which if weighed against all you have said today, they will prove to be heavier.

And what are these words Subhana Allah He will be held the he or the humpy What do you learn enough? See, he was in a thorough Toshi, with me that the Kalima tea. So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said these words of the spear just three times. All right, and he said that these words are heavier in reward, compared to all that you have said, since the time that you were sitting until now. So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam didn't just teach us to increase in doing good deeds. Rather, he taught us to perform the best deeds, deeds that bring the most reward. And this is something that we are all in need of knowing. Because there are times when we have the luxury of,

you know, sitting for hours and making the could. And then there are those times when we don't have that opportunity. Where if you have to leave for work, or you have children to attend to, you have family to look after you have obligations, you don't have that luxury to continue to sit in one place, and just, you know, make the kids. So you have to we all need to learn about those deeds, which are best, those deeds which are most virtuous, that bring the most reward, this doesn't mean that we need to have a lazy attitude. No, it just means that, you know, we need to work smarter, not just harder. Because when we work smarter, then we are able to reap a lot of benefit. And when we

are just working harder, then the results, you know, are not always, you know, are not always great. But definitely what we get from working harder is fatigue, and sometimes boredom and sometimes even resentment. May Allah subhanaw taala protect us. Because Allah subhanaw taala does not get tired of our worship.

So we have to see what our ability is what we are able to do, what our strength is, what our limitations are. And given the situation that we are in, we need to learn about, you know, the best deeds so that we can earn the best rewards as well. So this is the reason why we're going to be covering the series, because all of us need these reminders. And the thing is that life is not always the same. Right? especially women. You know, we go through so many changes in our world.

Live so many seasons in our lives where, you know, sometimes we have the liberty to spend our time and our energy as we will. And then there are those situations where we don't have that liberty. So we need to learn about what the best deeds are, so that we can perform those deeds and an earn great rewards in in our short lives. So the first thing that we need to remember is that all good deeds are not the same. We see in the Quran in the teachings of the Prophet salallahu alayhi wasallam, that there are certain deeds that are more virtuous compared to others, meaning that they bring more reward compared to other deeds, they bring you closer to Allah subhanaw taala compared to other

deeds, so for example, smiling is Sadako

it's rewardable saying the Salaam is also rewardable helping someone in the kitchen is also rewardable.

listening to someone is also rewardable. Right? talking to someone so that they're not lonely, that is also rewardable praying voluntary prayer is ultra rewardable reciting the Quran is also rewardable. teaching the Quran is also rewardable. But all of these deeds are not equal in terms of reward. They vary in the reward that they bring to a person. So the question then is that what are deeds? What are those deeds, which are the most virtuous which are most rewardable because we want to know about the best deeds right, because we want to begin with those. So, remember, that out of all good deeds, it is the obligatory deeds which are most rewardable meaning the actions which Allah

subhanaw taala has obligated on us, they are deeds, they are those deeds, which brings us the most reward. Because in Hades we learned that Allah subhanaw taala says that my servant does not draw near to me with anything more love to me, then the religious duties I have obligated upon him. So for example, you have 15 minutes you are at work during the day during the daytime and you have 15 minutes break. In those 15 minutes, you can do many different good deeds, you could FaceTime a friend and you know who you know is working from home who is alone, and you could talk to them so that they're they don't feel lonely. You could search for something online, that you can order for a

friend or for a relative, you can you know, send a few messages to friends and family that you have not connected with for some time. Or you can recite five pages of the Quran. Or you can get up and go pray, Lord,

okay, now out of all of these good deeds, what is the best? What is the most virtuous? It is that you get up and pray, Lord, why? Because at that time, what Allah subhanaw taala has obligated on you is what it is love Salah. So, if you perform those Salah at that time that is much more beneficial and rewardable for you, then calling a friend, sending a gift, connecting with you know friends and family. Not that those good deeds are not important. They are important, but what is more important right now is your Salah. So remember this out of all good deeds, what is most virtuous is those deeds which Allah subhanaw taala has obligated on us. So when it comes to Salah, furred Salah,

fudger, Salah, Lahore, Salah Asad mahari Bishop, these are more virtuous compared to voluntary Salah when it comes to fasting, the fasting of the month of Ramadan is more virtuous than voluntary fasts at any other time of the year. When it comes to spending giving others than giving a cat is far more virtuous than any other act of charity. So your obligations remember there are more virtuous compared to voluntary acts of worship.

And in this Hadees we learn that Allah soprano

Carla says that and my servant continues to draw near to me with voluntary deeds until I love him. Because some people, what they do is that they just stop at the obligations. They think, okay, I've done my fault level Carlos, I'm done my obligation.

No, we we need to do more as well. So for example, in those 15 minutes you performed your will do and you perform your his or her Salah, and you also perform the sooner now you have five more minutes, for example, you have five more minutes before you have to return to work. So in those five minutes, you quickly write a message and you send it to your friends and family. Okay, so yes, you perform the voluntary good deed. And by this voluntary good deed what's happening, you are drawing closer to Allah subhanaw taala. And the more voluntary good deeds you perform, the closer you will go to Allah zoologia and as we learn in Hadees, that Allah subhanaw taala says that the servant

continues to draw near until I love him, this is how you earn the love of Allah, by increasing in your voluntary good deeds, whether it is voluntary Salah or voluntary, fast, or volunteer or, or or charity, right sadaqa.

Another important thing we need to remember is that the reward for deed is determined by not just the quantity, okay, but also by the state of one's hearts, okay, by the state of one's heart. So, it's so shocking to sound even taymiyah mentions that the reward for deed is not determined by just how hard you worked and how much you got done. Because many people think that the harder you work, the greater the reward is, but that is not the case. The increase in reward is related to how beneficial the deed is and how aligned it is with the teachings of Allah and His messenger. So the more obedient you are to Allah and His Messenger in doing something, the more reward the deed will

bring. So for example, you have, you know, you wake up well in time for a budget, okay, before you perform your budget prayer, what do you do you perform some voluntary Salah Okay, and you perform 52 cards, okay, but rushed 50 dakara to perform them rushed. So, okay, you performed a voluntary good deed, you work really hard. And you you also performed a lot of voluntary Salah. But in doing that now, what's happening is that, you know, by the time you complete the 50 you realize there's only 10 minutes left until the sunrises So, then you quickly perform budget, okay. Now, Yes, you did 15 avid record and then you perform for your Salah, technically, you did a lot. And yes, this is rewardable.

However, if you perform, if you did not perform those 52 cards, and instead, you perform the two sooner or fudger properly, properly, and you recited suitable care for your own in the first chakra, certain loss in the second record as the Prophet sallallahu earning send them would do. And then you perform your fudger prayer, and you recite a lot of Quran in the first record. And in the second record, this will be much more rewardable compared to the 50 record, voluntary prayer that you perform. So it's not enough then to just do a lot. It is necessary that we learn what Allah subhanaw taala likes, what the prophet sallallahu Urdu Selim did, how he used to worship Allah, and the more

aligned our worship is with the way that the Prophet salallahu Urdu center would worship the the greater our reward will be. And the reward is also determined by the state of the heart. So for example, there is one person who recites Oracle airfloss in Salah out of laziness because they're they can't be bothered reciting along suta. Okay, they just want to get over this a lot quickly. So they think of a short soda, they think of pseudo floss and they just recite that. Okay, but then there's another person who also recite sort of a floss. But why are they reciting sort of a class because they love that surah because the surah talks about it describes Allah or zildjian. So, you

know, we learn in Hadees about

A man who would recite all of the class in every locker. All right, he was appointed as the Imam over people. In every Salah that he led, he would recite to that class. Okay, so the people complained to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and when the Prophet sallallahu already said, I'm asked that man, Why'd you do that? He said that I love this sutra. And he was told that he that Allah loves you because of your love for the sutra. Is there a difference? There's a huge difference. In reward. Why is there a difference? The difference is because one is reciting that sutra, out of laziness, another is reciting that surah, out of love. So it's not just about the

quantity, it's also about the quality. All right, it's also about the intention. It's also about the state of the heart. So if you recite one page of the Quran, happily, right, you recite it in such a way that you are reflecting over the verses, you are willingly reciting that page. And you you, you know, pause and you feel that love for Allah, you feel that Whoa, sure, you feel that fear, right, you cry, those tears, this recitation will bring you far more reward compared to recitation that is rushed, that you do just to, you know, complete your daily goal. And, you know, just endure reciting with resentment, you reciting and, you know, half looking at most half, and then looking here, and

they're constantly checking your phone, you have your phone open in one hand, most often the other hand, any, you see, there's a difference. So it's not just about the quantity, it's also about the quality. Another important thing we need to remember, is that the virtue of a deed, meaning the reward of a deed depends on the state of the person, the time and the place. So basically, the reward of a deed is associated with three things. Okay, what are these three things first of all, the state of the person? Secondly, what time it is, and by time I don't mean what time of day or night it is, of course, that also but also what time of the year it is, what day it is, what month

it is, all right, and also the place. So for example,

I just gave you an example of the person who recites within the class out of laziness and the other recites out of love. The action is the same, but the reward is different. Right? Because the state of the person is what that they're reciting out of love. Right? with sincerity with dedication. So the reward will be greater. What about the time? For instance, it's Friday, okay, and a person recites suitable calf, this will be more rewardable. Right? Compared to reciting, for example, soda syrup, pseudo Israel. Also, if you recite it on Friday, it's great. I mean, if that is, you know, coming in your daily recitation, you happen to recite through Islam, great. But if you recite so

little calf on Friday, there is a special virtue there's a special reward that is attached to that.

You said that could be rot any time of the year excellent, but you say tuck the rot. Now, in these days of the hedger, it is more rewardable it is more beloved to Allah.

What about the place, if you are performing Nuffield prayer in your home, great. But if you perform Neff and prayer in the harem, while while while you are standing before the Kaaba, of course, the reward is greater. So we have to know about the significance of different times and the significance of different places. And also, we have to recognize what role what position we are in what the state of our heart is, we have to be cognizant of that so that we can perform the best deed.

So if your claim also explains that for one person is certain deed may be more virtuous compared to another deed. So for example, you have, again, your morning to yourself, let's say you're not at work, you're not at school, you are free, you are at home, okay? So you can you can do a number of different things. But given who you are, given what your strengths are, given what responsibilities you have in your life, given what opportunities you have, a certain deed may be more virtuous for you compared to another deed.

So remember that what is best for you is rooted in who you are, what roles you have, what skills you have

You don't have to change who you are, okay? You don't have to become someone else to be more virtuous. You know, for example, some people, they think that because I'm a mother, I can't do more, I can't do much. Because I'm pregnant, I can't do much because I'm getting married soon, I can't do much because I have to work, I can't do much No, you can still do what is best for you, given the unique position that you are in, you are in, in this part of your life. So no matter who you are, no matter what your capabilities or your limitations are, there are deeds that are best for you, more virtuous for you. So for example, if there is a person who is wealthy, Allah subhanaw, taala has,

has given them a lot of wealth. They are able to give sadaqa All right, and they're also able to perform nephele prayer. If they perform method of prayer, for example, you know, in the in, you know, after load, they have free time, so they perform nephele prayer, okay, voluntary prayer, let's say they perform Tendulkar not nephele prayer, okay, great. But the benefit that they're going to get from this deed is just personal. Right? If they give sadaqa, from the wealth that Allah subhanaw taala has given them, if they spend on others, that will be more rewardable for them. Why? Because they're bringing relief to someone in need. They're bringing a smile to someone, they're helping

someone, they're taking their worries away, they are investing in their future, right? They are, you know, basically getting sadaqa jariya for themselves. So you have to see what strength Allah subhanaw taala has given you, you are able to recite Quran yourself and you are also able to teach Quran to someone. So you say, you know what, I'm not going to be teaching anyone because you know, then people will know that I know how to recite the Quran, I'm just going to sit at home and recycle on myself. Okay, when you recycle on yourself, the benefit is personal, it's only going to benefit you. Allah subhanaw taala has equipped you has blessed you with the ability to teach someone else.

When you teach someone else you benefit yourself and you benefit them.

So you see, there's a difference. You could spend your morning reciting Quran yourself, or you can also take some time out and teach someone when you teach someone that will be better for you than your personal recitation.

So, it is very important for us that we recognize we understand what is best for us, given the situation that we are in, given the tools that Allah subhanaw taala has, has equipped us with. And when a person does not know, a person does not realize the difference between what is more virtuous and what is less virtuous. And there are serious consequences. How First of all, they miss out on reward, they miss out on reward. Think about it. If you teach someone how to recite Fatiha and now every single time that they recite Surah Fatiha for the rest of their lives, you're going to get reward. Okay. But you say no, no, I'm not going to teach anyone I'm just going to recycle on myself.

So you just recycle on yourself. You don't teach anyone? Are you missing out on reward? Absolutely, you are absolutely you are it is the month of the hedger you if you know that a deep performed in these days is more rewardable. And you give sadaqa right? You make that special donation that extra, you know that bigger donation, right? That is a very, very rewardable. But if you don't know about it, and you don't give you know that that donation, you don't make that sort of what's going to happen, you're gonna miss out on reward. So when we don't know what the best deeds are, we miss out on reward. Secondly, what happens is that we make errors in prioritization. You see, everyone has

has limited time, limited ability. So, for example, you know, the when I gave you the example of 15 minutes at work, if you think that listening to someone talking to your friend, you know, bringing her some joy by telling her a few jokes, you know, is is great. It's a virtuous deed. Okay, you do that but you miss look.

You perform the hood Lee

You're making a huge mistake over here. So, when we don't realize what is best in a situation, we make such mistakes, and we fall short in our obligations. And some people what they do is that they begin to, you know, increase a lot in their volunteer deeds, but they neglect their obligatory deeds. And so they don't, they don't get the reward that they're able to get. And they don't find closeness to Allah subhanaw taala that they would have been able to find if they prioritized correctly.

And also remember that you know, for you know, for instance, if there is a person who is able to teach other people good things, and this they find out that you know, if you pick up something from the from from the road, that is bothering people, that is that that is rewardable right, so, you leave, you know, teaching children the Quran, for example, and you go start cleaning the streets, because this is rewardable Yes, cleaning the streets is rewardable but teaching Quran is more rewardable especially given the fact that you are able to teach Quran. You see, anyone can clean the streets, even those people who don't know how to recite the Quran, so you have to think about what

you are best able to do. So then how should we how exactly should we prioritize? What's the main lesson that we can learn from all of this discussion? The first thing is that we must prioritize what is obligatory. So in these days, we need to begin by focusing on on performing the obligations. You know, your fuddled, Salah, make sure that you're praying that on time, if you, for example, spend a lot of time in the night performing the HUD job, and then you miss your budget. That's that's a mistake. fudger prayer is more virtuous than the hodzic prayer. All right. Secondly, prioritize what brings greater benefit over what brings only personal benefits.

So we learn about how Mr. Malik once he was teaching, and one of his students, you know, he got up from that gathering. And he went on to pray voluntary prayer in the masjid. So Mr. Malik said that what you are leaving is more virtuous than what you are going towards. Because learning from a teacher that is teaching at the at the moment, this is time sensitive, right class was going on. So that man was leaving the room and was going towards personal worship. If he were to learn something from my Malik, then he would be able to teach so many people. And when he gave preference to personal rabada, then he was only bringing benefit to himself. So you see, sometimes, what happens

is that,

you know, we want to pray now for prayer, we want to recite the Quran, but your children are hungry. Right? Your husband has just returned home from work. There is a person who is sick at home and they need your help. So you say no, no, you're hungry, you have to wait. You're crying, I don't care, cry all you want. You're in pain. You have to wait. I have to complete my recitation. That is not correct. Prioritize correctly, prioritize what brings greater benefit over what brings personal benefit. But this does not mean that you leave the recitation of the Quran entirely. Because this is also a mistake that we make, you know, we think that I have to focus on my family, I have to attend

to their needs, I have to think about the greater good. And because of that personal Rebbe is always sacrificed. It is always compromised. That is not healthy. You also need to create boundaries. You also need to prioritize yourself. And this is related to wisdom. ask Allah subhanaw taala, for wisdom for the ability to do the right thing at the right time. Another thing is the third thing is that when opportunities are many, so for example, in the in the following days, we'll be talking about many different kinds of good deeds, and you want to do everything and you don't know what to do what to leave, then do a little of everything. Okay, but be consistent. So for example, when it

comes to nafion, prayers, voluntary prayer, you can perform a lot of that during the day and during the night.

When it comes to the recitation of the Quran, you can do a lot of that

During the day, and during the night, when it comes to the code, you can do a lot of that during the day and during the night. But should you then spend all of your time performing voluntary prayer or all of your time reciting to put on all of your time making liquid, no.

Perform voluntary prayer, even if it's just to Takara. During the day, recite the Quran, even if it's a one page, make Vicar even if it's, you know, certain tests behat certain that we wrote during the day, but do a little of everything. And the little that you do, be consistent, be consistent, because the most beloved deeds to Allah are those which are most consistent, even if they are little. So remember that don't deprive yourself of certain good deeds because you're doing something else. And you we need that balance. If we can recite a page of the Quran, Edie, we can spend five minutes in the morning making Vicar that is better than only performing voluntary prayers all day

long.

And the fourth thing is that when the virtue of a deed is associated with a certain time, then give preference to that date, because certain things are time sensitive, right? They're time sensitive. So for example, the vicar in the morning is more beneficial compared to the Quran, you know, in the middle of the day, right? Likewise, a vicar after Salah is more virtuous compared to the could add, you know, at any other time. So, when virtue is when reward is associated to deeds being performed at a certain time, then give preference to those deeds. So for example, it's, you know, it's time for Salah it's also Salah, right and somebody is calling you and you know that they want to talk to

you. So, so, you have to give preference to what to the deed which is time sensitive, also Salah, you perform a song, and then you call back.

And lastly, in doing virtuous deeds, do not neglect the rights of those who deserve something from you. And you performing good deeds doesn't mean that you neglect people. Because sometimes we make that mistake that we are so busy listening to a lecture or we are so busy, you know reciting Quran we're so busy memorizing we're so busy, you know listening to a friend, you know, consoling a friend, that we neglect our children, we neglect you know the husband we neglect our you know our duties to our parents. So, there needs to be a correct prioritization. May Allah soprano partner grant us all beneficial knowledge and Milla soprano Tara grant us all the wisdom, the ability to

recognize what is best in in a given situation and Allah subhanaw taala give us the tofik to do what is best in these days and in the rest of our lives. I mean, inshallah, we will conclude over here for today, tomorrow inshallah We will begin with the theme of what is what what is the best deed, especially when it comes to faith when it comes to Amen. So inshallah tomorrow we will begin with the different themes barakallahu li comes to panicle lahoma we'll be having a Chateau La ilaha illa Anta staff heruka to buoy Lake wa Salaam Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

beneficial things today