On the authority of Abu Dharr Jundub ibn Junada and Abu Abdul Rahmaan Muaadh ibn Jabal (RadhiAllahu Anhuma) from the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) who said,
“Fear Allah wherever you are. And follow up a bad deed with a good deed and it will wipe it out. And behave towards the people with a good behaviour.”
[Recorded in al-Tirmidhi]
This hadith tells us one of the ways in which the punishment for a bad deed may be removed by Allah’s (swt) permission. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) in His mercy has provided us with numerous opportunities to earn His (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) forgiveness. Here are ten ways in which Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) removes sins from the believer:
1. Sincere repentance when one feels remorse and resolves not to do it again.
2. Recognising that one has committed a sin and that Allah forgives sins and then asking Him to forgive you.
3. Performance of good deeds.
4. Supplication for another Muslim.
5. What is done by a living person for the sake of the dead: fasting, charity etc
6. The intercession of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).
7. Afflictions in this life.
8. The hardship of the test and the life in the grave.
9. The events of the Day of Judgement.
10. The Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala).
There are many ways that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) promises to remove sins from us, and reading down the list, we can see that repenting and performing good deeds are amongst the easiest to achieve.
Let’s remember Allah’s (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) promise of the Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, and strive to follow a bad deed with a good one, so that our scale of good deeds outweigh the bad on the Day of Judgement.
“And behave towards the people with a good behaviour.”
The final piece of advice that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) gave in this hadith is that the believer should have good behaviour towards other people. Good behaviour and good character are an essential part of having taqwa. Many people think that taqwa, or fear of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), is only about fulfilling the rights of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), but this hadith illustrates to us that to have complete taqwa, one must also fulfill the rights of other human beings, by treating them in the best manner. This includes interacting with others in a friendly manner, smiling at them and greeting them, being calm and gentle and not having bad thoughts or saying bad things about other people, be they young or old.
The fact the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) advised us to cultivate this type of good behaviour shows this is not necessarily something innate in everyone, but that a person can change their behaviour. They can perform acts of kindness and gentleness until they become accustomed to them. It is a sad fact that many people who stress the importance of the rights of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) neglect to meet the rights of those people closest to them. This hadith shows us the error of that path.
Islam places a great emphasis on good behaviour. The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“I have been sent for the purpose of perfecting good morals.”
[Recorded in al-Haakim]
Therefore we can see that one of the essential things that the conduct of the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) shows us is how to behave. He (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) defined, illustrated and taught us the best of manners. We cannot use our own desires to decide what type of behaviour is best, we must look to the example of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) to show us what is best.
In another hadith, the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) stated:
“I am a guarantor of a house in the highest part of Paradise for the one who makes his behaviour good.”
[Recorded in Abu Dawood]
Let’s ask ourselves, do we always hold our tongue and refrain from saying harsh words or negative things about others? Do we always keep our word? Do we greet those that we know and those that we don’t with salaam? Are we calm and gentle, even with our children? Do we treat others as we would wish to be treated ourselves? Is our conduct worthy of the highest part of Paradise?