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THE VALUE OF WILLINGLY PERFORMED SERVICE IN THE SIGHT OF ALLAH

Performing Righteous Actions Performing righteous actions is an important attribute of believers. In the Quran, Allah has commanded believers to perform right actions, and has revealed that those who do good in this world will be rewarded in the best way in the hereafter. Right actions are deeds that benefit Allahs religion and that are intended to support Muslims. Everyone is responsible for performing right actions according to his own means. If one has extensive qualifications or earnings, that person is responsible for using them for the pleasure of Allah. That is because the reason why those were given to him is that they are to be used for the pleasure of Allah. One of the most important activities of a person who has made efforts and endeavoured to perform right actions all through his life will no doubt be his voluntary services to religion. Another attribute of right actions is their lasting quality. Allah advises right actions which are lasting in many verses. One of these verses reads: ... In your Lord's sight, right actions which are lasting are bet ter both in reward and end result. (Surah Maryam: 76) As we have seen, believers should always look for right actions all through their lives and be enthusiastic and sincere in doing so. It would not be acceptable for a person to make do with a few deeds and believe his efforts had been adequate. One should always ask for more, and pray Allah for new ways of giving service. If someone is eager and willing in this matter, Allah will definitely show him the way, because Allah helps those who help Him. Muslims Compete with Each Other in Doing Good It is natural for Muslims to look for ways of service, always to act with a desire to do more and even to compete with each other over this. This is because Allah commands believers in the Quran to compete with each other in doing good. There are many verses in the Quran on this: So compete with each other in doing good. Every one of you will return to Allah and He will inform you regarding the things about which you differed (Surat al-Maida: 48) As can be clearly understood in the above verse, competing in doing good is an important attribute of a believer. There are various kinds of services that should be performed in order to gain the pleasure of Allah and benefit His religion. There are many voluntary organizations founded for this purpose, and each one of them offers services in different areas. There are institutions operating in different areas, such as health services and human rights, aid organizations, scientific organizations, cultural services, activities aimed at transmitting the message of Allah, political platforms and economic organizations all over the world. In these organizations, there are many truly sincere people who aim to gain the pleasure of Allah and make efforts to serve Islam. The great majority of these people strive voluntarily, with the sole intention of giving service. This way, believers compete in doing good in different areas to please Allah. Yet, since this is a race, it is extremely important that everyone should not consider his own efforts sufficient in terms of voluntary service but make greater efforts.

Eagerly and sincerely rendering voluntary service in the way of Allah is a significant characteristic of believers. Making sincere efforts in the way of Allah and being eager to serve religion, in fact, is a natural outcome of the desire to draw nearer to Allah. Ones efforts to serve Allah are in fact a manifestation of ones faith and sincerity. Performing loyal service in the way of Allah by making sacrifices and without asking for any return proves that a person deeply loves and fears Allah, and is certain about the hereafter and that he will be repaid in the hereafter for his deeds. Eagerness, perseverance and diligence in service to religion and in performing good deeds is actually a command of Allah: So when you have finished, work on. (Surat al-Inshirah: 7) As we can see from this verse, believers should move towards another righteous deed when they have finished performing one. Consequently, believers constantly perform good deeds. Moreover believers are not affected by tiredness or seemingly difficult conditions while rendering service. What is essential for believers is to earn Allahs mercy and paradise by the service they render. Religious morality and the eagerness of believers who followed Our Prophet (peace be upon Him) set an example for all Muslims. The behaviour of believers who desired to serve Allahs religion but could not find the means to do so is related in the Quran as follows: Nor is anything held against those who, when they came to you for you to provide them with mounts and you said, I can not find anything on which to mount you,turned away with their eyes overflowing with tears, overcome by grief at having nothing to give. (Surat at-Tawba: 92) Eagerness to serve brings along sacrifice. A person eager to serve will naturally be self-sacrificing. This is because one may have to sacrifice his well-being during a service by offering up his time, sleep, comfort and property if necessary. At such a time, no believer would hesitate to sacrifice his personal interests. In fact, everyone has certain values for which he/she makes sacrifices. People remote from religion make all kinds of sacrifices to satisfy their whims and desires. For example, many people spend their time and energy in order to be promoted to a more important job. They work hard until late at night, wake up early, sacrifice of their entertainment, sleep and comfort, and most of the time fail to pay attention even to their families and loved ones. A sportsman who wants to win a medal works out night and day, no matter how hard the conditions are. Likewise, a student who wants to pass a college admission test spends his time and money, studies hard and makes many sacrifices. The fundamental value for the sake of which believers would make sacrifices is the good pleasure of Allah, His grace and His Paradise. Believers may have much work to do, may make plans and set targets in their daily lives, yet these can never take precedence over the real aim. Believers perform their acts whole aware of the fact that each of these is merely a means to their real aim. Believers offer every kind of sacrifice to serve and to be of benefit to religion. However, the pleasures these sacrifices give them are much greater. Before all else, Allah bestows inner peace and joy on those who live according to His call and display moral behaviour. One can attain true goodness by persevering and by sacrificing, when necessary, what one loves.

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