Value of Every Deed Is in Ikhlas
The Quranic plan is annually organized in summer with the aim of promoting memorization of the Holy Book and spreading the Quranic culture and teachings in society.
This is the 1455th year since the revelation of the Holy Quran to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and hence the name ‘1455’.
In this plan, every week some verses of the Quran with special themes are selected and their interpretations are discussed in various TV and radio programs.
Then a competition is held about the lessons and discussions.
Following is an interpretation of verses 8-9 of Surah al-Insan of the Holy Quran, given in the “1455 Quranic Plan”:
“And they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the orphan and the captive. We only feed you for Allah's sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks.”
In these verses, some of the good deeds of the righteous are mentioned:
1- … they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the orphan and the captive.
Giving them food is not easy but requires self-sacrifice when one is in need themselves. Also, it covers a range of the needy, including the poor, the orphan and the captive. Hence, their compassion is inclusive and extensive.
2- Ikhlas (purity of intention): (They say) “We only feed you for Allah's sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks.”
Their deeds are not limited to giving food to others but whatever they do is done with pure intention and for God, the Almighty, without expecting any rewards or gratitude. In Islam, the value of every deed is in its Ikhlas. Whatever is done with motivations other than acting upon Divine teachings is without value, whether they are done out of hypocrisy or for attracting people’s praise or getting materialistic rewards. Thus the Hadith from the Holy Prophet (PBUH): “Actions are judged based on intentions”.
3- Feeding the hungry is among the best deeds. Not only in these but in many other verses of the Quran, feeding the hungry is described as the best deeds of the righteous, showing that it is very important before God. In today’s world, millions of people die annually due to hunger while in some places in the world people throw away and waste large amounts of foods. This demonstrates the importance of this Islamic teaching that encourages the faithful to feed the hungry.
4- In Hadiths, there has been great emphasis put on feeding others, not only the hungry but also the faithful. As well as removing hunger and need, it helps to promote friendship and rapport.
