Righteousness according to the Islam

It is stated in The Holy Qur'an,

"Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous"
Source:Chapter 2, Verse 177, Surah Al-Baqarah

This is what we learn from the above verse:

• Obedience to Allah, adhering to His commands, facing wherever He commands facing, and implementing whatever He legislates, is the objective. This is Birr, Taqwa and complete faith.
• Facing the east or the west does not necessitate righteousness or obedience, unless it is legislated by Allah.
• Virtues highlighted here are right Faith, believing in Allah, that He is the only God worthy of worship, and believing in the angels the emissaries between Allah and His Messengers.
• Steadfastness in prayer, spending in charity, (for the sake of Allah and not for worldly gains like praise and popularity),fulfillment of contracts, and patience in adverse circumstances. 

This above ayah shows what should be the characteristics of righteous people. If one Muslim doesn't hold these, then how can he/she claim to be on the track then? Allah also says in the Qur'an:

"Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah ] from that which you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it."
Source: Chapter 3, Verse 92, Surah 'Ali `Imran

Again about the people who are righteous it is said in the Qur'an,

"Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds - those are the best of creatures."
Source: Chapter 98, Verse 7, Surah Al-Bayyinah

There are also many sahih hadtihs addressing the righteousness, from those some can be mentioned here, 

Narrated `Abdullah:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar."
Source: Book 78, Hadith 121, Sahih al-Bukhari 

This above hadith clearly defines the mechanism how one can lead to be in Jannah or Jahnnam basing on truthfulness and falsehood respectively.


Later on the Sahih al-Bukhari, it is stated, 

Narrated `Abdullah:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do not wish to be like anyone, except in two cases: (1) A man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously. (2) A man whom Allah has given wisdom (knowledge of the Qur'an and the Hadith) and he acts according to it and teaches it to others."
Source: Book 93, Hadith 5, Sahih al-Bukhari

We get a direction from the above sahih hadith that we should wish to be like two kinds of people that is mentioned clearly here.

Hope this compiled write up has helped you, my dear readers. Thanks.

- #EHLatifee