Rush To The Most Virtuous Actions

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

The Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) always on the look for ways to please Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam. One day, 'Uqba ibn 'Aamir (may Allah be pleased with him) saw the Prophet was walking and he rushed to him, grabbing him by his hands, and said, "O Messenger of Allah, inform me of the very most virtuous of actions."

Usually, people would ask about good actions, but 'Uqba asked about the very most virtuous of actions. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam then said, "O 'Uqba, maintain ties with those who cut ties with you, give to those who deny you, and turn away from those who wrong you, for you fulfill their rights for the Exalted purpose."

1. Maintain ties with those who cut ties with you. The reason you maintain ties will not change, i.e. for Allah, the Exalted.

2. Give to those who deny you. You didn't give to people for their sake as Allah describes the sincere believers in the Quran,

إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءً وَلَا شُكُورًا ﴿٩

[Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude. (9) [Quran, Al-Insaan 76:9]

3. Turn away from those who wrong you. You don't respond to the wrong with wrong rather follow the wrong with the good and it will wipe it out. Turning away from those who wrong you may entail defending your rights but you don't defend your rights to react against their wrong. You don't reciprocate their wrong nor do you respond by self, "they wrong me therefore I will do this to them." That is exaltation of self. Rather, you turn away from revenge and retribution. You turn away from self and defending of self. Instead, you exalt your aspiration to that respond that will be pleasing to Allah. That's the Prophetic respond. That was how he entered Makkah, victorious. He exalted his aspiration from worldly gloating. He entered, bowed in prostration on his camel so much so his noble forehead was almost touching the neck of the camel, worshiping Allah not celebrating heedlessly. When he entered he did not seek revenge, and said to them, "Today I say to you like Yusuf said to his brethren," and he forgave everybody. The only people he didn't forgive is for their sake.

قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّ‌ٰحِمِينَ ﴿٩٢

He (Yusuf) said, "No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful." (92) [Quran, Yusuf 12:92]

May Allah enable us to act upon these virtuous actions and all those actions that are pleasing to Allah. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam