al-Amal al-Salih
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- al-Amal al-Salih
al-Amal al-Salih (The Righteous Deed) is an Islamic work authored by Sami Muhammad addressing the concept of righteous action, its theological prerequisites, and its role in the life and salvation of a Muslim.
Definition and Conditions of Acceptance
In Islamic scholarship, a righteous deed (al-amal al-salih) is defined as any act pleasing to God that meets two core criteria: it must be performed sincerely for God's pleasure and in full conformity with Islamic sacred law . Classical commentators, including Ibn Kathir, note that divine acceptance of an act requires both pure intention (ikhlas) and adherence to the prophetic sunnah (ittiba') . In addition, an essential prerequisite for the validity and acceptance of righteous deeds is sound monotheistic faith (iman), as deeds performed without belief carry no reward in the Hereafter .
Scope and Spiritual Fruits
The scope of righteous deeds encompasses both positive acts of obedience—such as ritual prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage, filial piety, upholding ties of kinship, and imparting knowledge—as well as the intentional refraining from sinful and prohibited conduct .
Scholarly treatises highlight multiple spiritual and eschatological benefits associated with righteous deeds. In this world, consistent devotion purifies the heart from hypocrisy and draws the servant closer to divine love . In the afterlife, righteous actions serve as a comforting companion in the grave, alleviate hardships, and constitute the primary means of attainment of Paradise through God's grace and mercy .
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