THE CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTED RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

 

THE CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTED RIGHTEOUSNESS

Tafsir Ibnu Katsir

 

Allah Almighty said :

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلا صَالِحًا وَلا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا

Say, "Indeed, I am only a man like you, to whom it has been revealed that your God is only one God. So whoever hopes for the meeting with his God - let him do righteous work and he should not associate anyone in the worship of his God"

 

Ibnu Katsir said :

﴿فَمَنْ كانَ يَرْجُوا لِقاءَ رَبِّهِ﴾ أي ثوابه وجزاءه الصالح ﴿فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلاً صالِحاً﴾ أي ما كان موافقا لشرع الله ﴿وَلا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَداً﴾ وهو الذي يراد به وجه الله وحده لا شريك له، وهذان ركنا العمل المتقبل، لا بد أن يكون خالصا لله صوابا على شريعة رسول الله ﷺ

So whoever hopes for the meeting with his God, meaning His reward and good recompense.

let him do righteous work, that is, deeds that are in accordance with God's law.

And he should not associate anyone in the worship of his God. This refers to worship that is solely for the sake of God, without any partners.

These are the two pillars of acceptable work: it must be done purely for God and in accordance with the law of God's Messenger.