عن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏ “‏لا تحقرن من المعروف شيئاً، ولو أن تلقى أخاك بوجه طلق

Abu Dharr RA reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Do not disdain a good deed, (no matter how small it may seem) even if it is your meeting with your (Muslim) brother with a cheerful face.” [Muslim]

This Hadith teaches us that no good deed should be regarded as insignificant as it may be a means of earning Allah’s pleasure. It also teaches us to smile because people are attracted to a person who has a cheerful countenance. A smile removes ill feelings, makes others feel comfortable, and creates love between people.

EASY GOOD DEED – Ta`ziyah

Islam is a way of life, which guides and assists mankind through every situation. For dealing with moments of grief too, Allah has conveyed instructions through His Messenger ﷺ. There can be few instances that cause greater grief than the death of a loved one. Following the instructions brought by Rasulullah ﷺ will help lessen the grief and sorrow of the bereaved immensely, and make those who console them worthy of great reward. This is done through the Sunnah of ta’ziyah.

Ta’ziyah means to console, comfort and give solace to someone who is suffering grief. The Islamic concept of ta’ziyah at the time of someone’s death is one of consoling the bereaved with such words or actions as will remove or lessen their grief. The aim of ta’ziyah is to strengthen the broken-hearted and give them hope at a time when their hope may be waning; it is to lighten the load of the bereaved. To say or do things that augment or reawaken grief is not ta’ziyah, it is taklif (giving hardship to others).

There are great rewards for ta’ziyah. Rasulullah ﷺ said:

A Muslim who consoles his brother will be clothed with garments of honour by Allah on the Day of Qiyamah. [Bayhaqi]

Whoever consoles a bereaved mother will be dressed with a (special) garment in Paradise. [Tirmidhi]

‏ مَنْ عَزَّى مُصَابًا فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ ‏‏

Whoever consoles an afflicted person will receive the same reward [as the sufferer will upon his sabr]. [Tirmidhi]

When a Muslim is afflicted with a difficulty of any sort, be it the loss of a loved one or any other hardship, and he bears it patiently then Allah rewards him for his patience. From this hadith we learn that one who consoles an afflicted person receives the same reward that the afflicted person receives due to his patience. The patience exercised by a bereaved person, and consequently the reward, is obviously great, therefore the reward of someone who consoles the bereaved through the Sunnah of ta’ziyah is also great.