[dropcap]S[/dropcap]alam readers! It has been a while. Inshallah (God-willing) all is well in your lives. This edition of Real Talk addresses the importance of taking every action we do seriously. Whether small or big, we are held accountable for everything we do.
In Surat Al-Zalzalah (the Earthquake), Allah says, “That Day, the people will depart separated [into categories] to be shown [the result of] their deeds. So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it”(99:6-8).
We will be held accountable for all of our actions, whether good or bad. I have found that many scholars focus on the fact that even the smallest sin will be shown to us. Yet, I have rarely heard the point echoed that we will in fact see even the tiniest good deed we have done.
I feel that it is more encouraging to focus on the second point. I would like to reiterate that this doesn’t mean we can forget about our sins. I just believe God wants us to know he is the All-Merciful and the best Judge.
He will not forget even our smallest moments of righteousness. This is also a reminder that Allah is the Most Forgiving and inshallah we can be encouraged to repent for our sins, be they big or small.
There is another beautiful verse that resonates with me. In Surat Al-Kahf (the Cave), Allah says, “And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, ‘Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?’ And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one”(18:49).
My favorite part of this verse is the last sentence. It is always important to remember that God is the Most Just. He will give us what we have earned; in fact, out of his mercy, He will give us more than we have earned.
We should also not take what we do lightly; instead we should be deliberate in both thought and action, as whatever we do is recorded in our book forever.
Yes, we are always warned about our smallest negative actions because as human beings we become complacent when not under pressure. But I believe we will be encouraged to do more good if we focus on the fact that our good deeds, no matter what size, are recorded forever. Take care and enjoy the quarter!
Featured photo: “Homeless man,” © 2011 BuzzFarmers, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
I really appreciate this perspective…something that usually isn’t talked about or given much focus/attention. JAK.