Hadith-E-Qudsi Of the Day 18 Urdu

How often do we experience argument, quibbling, and even ugly dissention because somebody did not do the right thing the right way or did not do it enough! Somebody did not recite the Qur'an correctly; somebody did not pray properly; somebody did not have right size of beard or right length of pajamas! Aren't these things important? Shouldn't we do things the way it should be done? Yes, they should be. Islam does emphasize "Amali Salihat" (righteous deeds) and we should never feel that we have done enough.
However, everything, including good deeds, has its proper place. Overdoing it may just be contrary to the intent of Islam and our Benevolent Rabb. Those who elevate the matters of Aqeedah and good deeds to such a level that they do not hesitate to publicize their own correctness or righteousness and put down others actually have a gross misunderstanding about Islam and what it desires from people.
Allah did not create human beings to be perfect. Imperfection is the essence of human existence and it is beautifully illustrated in the Qur'an through the story of Adam and Hawaa. What then is the difference between Satan and human being. Satan transgressed against Allah by refusing to prostrate before Adam and then, instead of mending and repenting, became arrogant and rebelled. Adam and Hawa, on the other hand, transgressed too, but they mended and repented; they were forgiven and blessed. Thus, Allah wants us to be at our best, but He does not expect us to be perfect. Indeed, there is stern warning for those perfectionists, who not only does not realize their own imperfections, but actually look down upon others due to their imperfections. This imperfection is no small matter to our Benevolent Rabb; indeed, He would not have it any other way!
Prophet Muhammad (s) said, "[O people! Had you not sinned, Allah would have created a people that would have sinned, and asked for forgiveness from Him so that He would have forgiven them." [Sahih Muslim, Kitab at-Taubah, #6622]
This is not a license to sin, but a categorical affirmation that Allah does want our best effort in the direction of what is right and good, but He definitely does not expect perfection from us. If so, then it is easy to understand why, despite so much emphasis on good and righteous deeds, ultimately our salvation is not determined by our good deeds alone. Even Prophet Muhammad (s) would not be saved by his good deeds. What then is the ultimate and true determinant of our salvation?
Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allah's Apostle (p) said, "The deeds of anyone of you will not save you (from the hellfire)." They said, "Even you, O Allah's Apostle?" He said, "No, even I, unless and until Allah bestows His Mercy on me. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely, and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target." [Sahih al-Bukhari; Vol. 8, #470]
If our righteousness and good deeds make us arrogant and induce us to seek fault with others, then we indeed are headed in the wrong direction. Good deeds are very important to us, not merely because they are good for us, but more importantly because they reflect goodness in us. Out of all the good deeds we do, it might just be one good deed that truly reflects the goodness Allah likes in us, and we will be saved. That is why Islam is a source of hope not for just those advanced in good deeds, but also for those who are seriously deficient as well.
Abu Hurairah reported the Apostle of Allah (p) as saying: "A man never did a good deed but removed a thorny branch from the road; it was either in the tree and someone cut it and threw it on the road, or it was lying in it, he removed it. Allah accepted this good deed of his and brought him into Paradise." [Sunan Abu Dawood; Vol. 3, #5225]
Once again, the idea behind this Hadith is not that we should do just one good deed to save ourselves. Rather, we should be good and do good deeds, particularly being kind to others - human and non-human. For Allah, may be just one such accepted good deed is all that matters. In the above Hadith, it is most likely that the person was not doing that good deed consciously seeking salvation. But it truly reflected goodness in that person.
Let us try to be good and have right creeds and let us try to be the best we can as believers and do as much good deed as possible, but let us also remember that despite our best of good deeds, we have no hope except with mercy and compassion from our Benevolent Rabb. If we believe that certain things are right and good, and if we like others to emulate us, then let us pursue so by being kind and nice, rather than through bickering and self-righteous arrogance. After all, "Allah is Kind and He likes kindness in everything." [Hadrat Aishah, Bukhari/Muslim, reported in Riyadus Saleheen, #633] Therefore, let us not subject ourselves to hair-splitting scrutiny, because the Prophet (s) said: "A person who would be thoroughly scrutinized (on the Day of Judgment by Allah) is ruined." [Hadhrat A'isha, Sahih Muslim, #6874].