Allah has issued this command in the Qur'an:
You who have iman! do not profane the sacred rites of Allah or the sacred months, or the sacrificial animals, or the ritual garlands, or those heading for the Sacred House, desiring profit and good pleasure from their Lord. When you have come out of ihram, then hunt for game. Do not let hatred for a people who debar you from the Masjid al-Haram incite you into going beyond the limits. Help each other to goodness and taqwa. Do not help each other to wrongdoing and enmity. Have taqwa of Allah. Allah is severe in retribution. (Surat al-Maida: 2)
As is clear from that verse, the faithful struggle only for what is good. They consider the words of Allah, "Whatever good you do, Allah knows it." (Surat an-Nisa': 127) and never forget that they will be recompensed for all they do in the sight of our Lord. Allah reveals that pleasing mutual aid needs to be in a framework of 'good and godliness.' The meaning of goodness has also been explained to us in the Qur'an:
It is not devoutness to turn your faces to the East or to the West. Rather, those with true devoutness are those who have iman in Allah and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book and the Prophets, and who, despite their love for it, give away their wealth to their relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to travellers and beggars and to set slaves free, and who establish salat and pay zakat; those who honour their contracts when they make them, and are steadfast in poverty and illness and in battle. Those are the people who are true. They are the people who have taqwa. (Surat al-Baqara: 177)
The most important characteristics that people gain through Islam are love, mercy, cooperation, self-sacrifice, tolerance and forgiveness
True goodness, therefore, is rather different to the way it is perceived in society in general. People who do not live by the morality of the Qur'an regard good deeds as an act of help conferred on someone else as a favour whenever one happens to feel like it. Good deeds of that kind are usually restricted to giving money to a beggar in the street, or giving up one's seat to an elderly person on the bus.
Yet as we have seen from the above verse, the goodness described in the Qur'an is a concept that encompasses the whole of a believer's life, and is an obligation that needs to be fulfilled throughout the course of his life, not just when he feels like it or happens to remember it. A Muslim is a servant who possesses true sincerity, who helps the poor and needy, even if he is in need himself, even giving up the things he loves (Surat al-Insan: 8). That is because in, which reads And beggars and the destitute received a due share of their wealth. (Surat adh-Dhariyat: 19) Allah has revealed that rendering assistance, helping others and doing good are all incumbent upon Muslims. The help a Muslim gives is unconditional. A believer will be prepared ready to make any sacrifice in order to encourage others towards what is good and to do it himself. He expects nothing in return, apart from winning the pleasure of Allah. This is how Allah describes such behaviour by believers:
We feed you only out of desire for the Face of Allah.We do not want any repayment from you or any thanks. Truly We fear from our Lord a glowering, calamitous Day.' (Surat al-Insan: 9-10)
A Muslim knows that Allah is the Lord of infinite justice, and never forgets that his good behaviour will be suitably rewarded in the hereafter. Neither does he ever forget that the life of this world is only temporary, and that his true home lies in the sight of Allah. That is because Allah warns people of that inevitable end, and calls on everybody to behave in a manner pleasing to Him:
We did not create the heavens and earth and everything between them, except with truth. The Hour is certainly coming, so turn away graciously. (Surat al-Hijr: 85)
Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Be good to your parents and relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to neighbours who are related to you and neighbours who are not related to you, and to companions and travellers and your slaves. Allah does not love anyone vain or boastful. (Surat an-Nisa': 36)
The recompense that will be received by those who do exhibit pleasing behaviour is revealed in the verses in these terms, and is great good news for all of mankind:
But as for those who have iman and do right actions, We will not let the wage of good- doers go to waste. (Surat al-Kahf: 30)
When those who have taqwa of Allah are asked, 'What has your Lord sent down?' their reply is, 'Good!' There is good in the dunya for those who do good, and the abode of the akhira is even better. How wonderful is the abode of those who have taqwa: Gardens of Eden which they enter, with rivers flowing under them, where they have whatever they desire. That is how Allah repays those who have taqwa. (Surat an-Nahl: 30-31)
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