‘AMAL AS-SÂLIH - اعمال الصالح

Literally & Etymologically: Derived from the Arabic roots ‘-m-l (ع-م-ل), denoting to act, work or perform, and s-l-h (ص-ل-ح), denoting to be good, right, wholesome or proper. Literally ‘Amal means act, action, obedience or deed. Sâlih means good, righteous, wholesome, valid and sound. Thus, ‘amal as-sâlih literally denotes righteous actions or good deeds.

As an Islamic Term: Righteous and wholesome deeds performed with ikhlas solely for the sake of Allah, within the sphere of the Sharî‘ah. In the âkhirzaman, which is the era of widespread ma’nawî destruction and crisis, the chief priority and focus of ‘amal as-sâlih shifts toward taqwâ, which is avoiding sin and defending oneself against ma’nawî harms. Furthermore, through the mystery of ikhlas, an individual's personal deeds are multiplied by participating in the ma’nawî collective personality of the righteous community (jamâ’ah), thereby fulfilling both the material and ma‘nawî rights of the ‘abds of Allah and preserving social unity.

Excerpts from the Risale-i Nur that ellucidate the subject:

(This letter is extremely important.)

My ‘azîz, siddîq brothers,

In recent times, I have considered the principles of taqwâ and ‘amal as-sâlih, which, in the view of Al-Qur’an Al-Hakîm, are held to be the most fundamental principles after îmân. Taqwâ is to abstain from prohibitions and sins, and ‘amal as-sâlih is to act within the sphere of the command of Allah and earn sawâb through good deeds. While repelling sharr has at all times taken precedence over attracting good, in this age of destruction, dissipation (safahat) and alluring desires, this taqwâ — which consists of repelling corruption and abandoning kabâir — has become the primary foundation and gained supreme precedence.

Since negative currents and destruction have become terrifying in this age, taqwâ is the greatest principle against this ruinous destruction. Those who perform the fardh ‘ibâdah and do not commit the kabâir attain salvation. Amidst such grave kabâir, attaining ikhlâs in ‘amal as-sâlih is exceedingly rare. Furthermore, under these severe conditions, even a small act of ‘amal as-sâlih amounts to a vast amount.

Furthermore, a form of ‘amal as-sâlih is contained within taqwâ, for abandoning a haram is wâjib; and performing a single wâjib yields sawâb corresponding to many Sunnahs. In such times, amidst the onslaught of thousands of sins, taqwâ — through a single act of abstaining with a small deed — amounts to having performed hundreds of wâjibs by abandoning hundreds of sins. With the intention of this significant point, as taqwâ and with the resolve to avoid sin, it constitutes a significant ‘amal as-sâlih deriving from passive ‘ibâdah.

In this age, the most important duty of the students of the Risale-i Nur is to adopt taqwâ as their primary principle against destruction and sins, and to act upon it. Since, in the present way of social life, a hundred sins confront a person every minute, surely, through taqwâ and the intention of abstaining, he amounts to having performed a hundred ‘amal as-sâlih.

Kastamonu Addendum (148-149)

In matters pertaining to the religion and the âkhirah, there should be no rivalry, ghibta,1 envy or jealousy, and in point of haqiqah, there cannot be. Because the cause of jealousy and envy: people fall into ghibta then jealousy due to friction, dispute and competition arising from many hands being stretched out toward a single object, many eyes being fixed on a single rank and a single loaf of bread being desired by many stomachs. Since many people desire a single thing in this world, and because this world is narrow and transitory and thus unable to satisfy man's limitless desires, they fall into rivalry. However, as indicated by the hadith that in the âkhirah, a single person will be bestowed with a five-hundred-year expanse of Jannah, seventy thousand palaces and houris, and that everyone among the people of Jannah will be perfectly satisfied with his share with complete contentment, it is demonstrated that there is no cause for rivalry in the âkhirah, nor can there be. Therefore, there cannot be rivalry in ‘amal as-sâlih belonging to the âkhirah; it is not a place for jealousy. Whoever is jealous is either a hypocrite who seeks worldly results by means of ‘amal as-sâlih, or a faithful yet ignorant person who does not know where ‘amal as-sâlih looks and does not understand that ikhlas is the rûh and foundation of ‘amal as-sâlih.

The Twentieth Flash – 7th Cause