13 – Chapter: Clarifying the Abundance of Paths to Goodness
Allah the Exalted says, “Whatever good you do, Allah is fully aware of it.” (Al-Baqarah: 215); and He says, “Whatever good you do, Allah knows it.” (Al-Baqarah: 197); and He says, “Whoever does an atom’s weight of good shall see it.” (Az-Zalzalah: 7); and He says, “Whoever acts righteously, it is only for his own benefit.” (Al-Jāthiyah: 15). There are many other verses on this subject.
[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—writes: “Chapter: Clarifying the Numerous Paths to Goodness.” Good has many avenues, and this is part of Allah’s grace toward His servants, allowing their virtues, rewards, and abundant recompense to come through diverse means. The roots of these paths are threefold: physical effort, financial outlay, or a combination of the two. These form the fundamental avenues of good.
- Physical effort consists of bodily acts such as prayer, fasting, striving in Allah’s cause, and the like.
- Financial outlay includes obligatory zakah, voluntary charity, family maintenance, and similar expenditures.
- The combined form is exemplified by armed struggle in the path of Allah, which demands both one’s wealth and one’s life.
The branches that grow from these roots are exceedingly numerous so that acts of obedience vary and the servants do not weary of them. If good were confined to a single path, people would soon grow bored and fatigued, and the trial of life would not be fulfilled. When the avenues multiply, however, it is kinder to people and more exacting as a test.
On this point Allah the Exalted says, “So race toward all that is good.” (Al-Baqarah: 148); and He says