How Do We Understand the Many Paths to Goodness?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
Goodness has a single meaning, so how do we understand the existence of many paths to goodness?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
The Essence and Manifestations of Goodness
Goodness, in essence, refers to any act, word, or belief that promotes righteousness and benefit. Everything that draws a servant closer to Allah (Most High) is an expression of goodness, as is the avoidance of sins and wrong actions. We can summarize goodness as anything that benefits people and brings them closer to Allah (Most High).
Although goodness has one essential meaning, it can manifest in many forms and paths, depending on people’s needs, circumstances, and conditions. Allah (Most High) says:
“Righteousness is not in turning your faces towards the east or the west. Rather, the righteous are those who believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Books, and the prophets; who give charity out of their cherished wealth to relatives, orphans, the poor, (needy) travelers, beggars, and for freeing captives; who establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and keep the pledges they make; and who are patient in times of suffering, adversity, and in (the heat of) battle. It is they who are true (in faith), and it is they who are mindful (of Allah).” [Quran, 2:177]
Examples of paths to goodness include:
Meeting Others with a Cheerful Face
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.” [Muslim]
Charity in Various Forms
Charity does not only involve giving money or food. Every kind deed can be considered charity. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“Each morning, every joint of one of you must give charity. Every tasbih (saying ‘Subhan Allah’) is charity, every tahmid (saying ‘Alhamdulillah’) is charity, every tahlil (saying ‘La ilaha illallah’) is charity, every takbir (saying ‘Allahu Akbar’) is charity, enjoining good is charity, forbidding evil is charity, and two rak‘as of Duha suffice for all of this.” [Ibid.]
He also said,
“Every good act is charity. Among the good is meeting your brother with a cheerful face and pouring from your bucket into his container.” [Ahmad]
Summary of the Paths to Goodness
In summary, while the essence of goodness is singular, its expressions and sources are countless.
Examples include: learning beneficial knowledge and spreading it, comforting an orphan and gently patting their head, showing kindness to one’s parents, treating neighbors well, refraining from causing them harm, and displaying good character. Each person can choose the form of goodness that suits their circumstances and abilities. The more paths of goodness a believer pursues, the greater their status with their Lord.
A Final Piece of Advice
I conclude with a piece of advice from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). A man once came to him and asked, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me something in Islam that I cannot ask of anyone but you.” The Prophet said,
“Say, ‘I believe in Allah,’ and then remain steadfast.” The man then asked, “What should I be mindful of?” The Prophet pointed to his tongue. [Ahmad]
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
