Part 1: Praise to Allah
All praise is for Allah. We thank Him, ask His help and ask His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil in ourselves and from the bad things we do. Whoever Allah guides, no one can misguide. Whoever Allah leaves, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah alone and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger. Allah says: “O people, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and spread from both many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another and the wombs. Indeed, Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.” [An-Nisa: 1]
Part 2: The Short Life of This World and the Reward for Deeds
In the past, people lived for a very long time. But over time, people’s ages, dreams and manners became shorter and weaker.
The Prophet ﷺ said about our time: “The ages of my nation are between sixty and seventy years and few reach more than that.” [At-Tirmidhi] Because our lives are short, Allah gave a special blessing: if we do even a few good deeds, we get a big reward.
Part 3: The Importance of Doing Daily Good Deeds
We should try to do good deeds every day, not just sometimes. Some deeds are weekly, monthly or yearly but daily good deeds have great rewards. We often make a mistake: when we do a voluntary good deed, like extra charity or extra prayer, it feels more pleasing than obligatory deeds. But actually, obligatory deeds are even more loved by Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah said: My servant cannot draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the duties I have made obligatory for him. My servant continues to draw near to Me with extra deeds until I love him.” [Bukhari]
Part 4: The Reward of the Five Daily Prayers
The five daily prayers are very important. There is a reward for the time between one prayer and the next. Missing sins are forgiven if we avoid major sins.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The five daily prayers to the next five daily prayers and Friday to the next Friday are a forgiveness for what is between them if major sins are avoided.” [Muslim]
After prayer, saying dhikr (remembrance) has great rewards: Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever says after each prayer: SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, Allahu Akbar 33 times and then says once: ‘La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer,’ his sins will be forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.” [Muslim]
Part 5: Other Great Deeds
- Saying: “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah” (“There is no power or strength except with Allah”) is a treasure of Paradise. [Bukhari]
- Sending salawat (prayer) on the Prophet ﷺ: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever sends one prayer on me, Allah sends ten prayers upon him.” [Muslim]
We should send a lot of salawat on the Prophet ﷺ, especially on Fridays and the night before.
Part 6: Struggle Against the Self
Our own soul can make us do wrong. But if we are firm and disciplined, it obeys. Allah says: “And those who strive in Our cause, We will surely guide them to Our paths. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” [Al-Ankabut: 69] We should always try to obey Allah, struggle against our bad desires and remember Paradise which has blessings no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no heart has imagined.
Part 7: Dua for Ourselves and Loved Ones
“O Allah, by Your mercy that encompasses everything, gather us, our parents, and our loved ones in the highest Paradise, Al-Firdaus. O Allah, guide us, protect us from Hell, and make us live and die upon Your guidance and Tawheed. O Most Merciful.”
Part 8: The Best Deed is Tawheed
The most beloved action to Allah is Tawheed: believing in Allah alone:
- Worship Allah alone.
- Ask for help only from Allah.
- Seek support only from Allah.
- Fear only Allah.
- Sacrifice only for Allah.
Allah says: “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and do good to parents.” [Al-Isra: 23] The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever dies without associating partners with Allah will enter Paradise, and whoever dies associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire.” [Muslim] “Allah has forbidden the Fire for anyone who says: La ilaha illallah seeking His pleasure.” [Bukhari] “Whoever dies knowing there is no god but Allah will enter Paradise.” [Muslim] “Whoever I meet behind this wall, believing in Allah and that Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger, with certainty in his heart, give him glad tidings of Paradise.” [Muslim]
Part 9: True Tawheed Needs Action
Just saying La ilaha illallah is not enough. The hypocrites said it but did not follow it, so Allah said: “Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest part of the Fire.” [An-Nisa: 145] If someone believes in false ideas like a saint controlling the universe or a prophet knowing the unseen, the words “La ilaha illallah” do not help them. Just like if someone breaks wudu, their prayer is not valid; if someone breaks Tawheed by believing in shirk, their deeds are invalid. Allah says: “Indeed, if you associate partners with Allah, your deeds will be lost, and you will be among the losers.” [Az-Zumar: 65] Ibrahim (peace be upon him) prayed: “And keep me and my children away from worshipping idols.” [Ibrahim: 35] Allah told Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: “Know that there is no god but Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin.” [Muhammad: 19]
Part 10: Spread Tawheed and Protect Yourself
Be careful. Do not let Shaytan trick you into thinking you are safe without remembering Tawheed. Remember the examples of Ibrahim and Muhammad ﷺ. Teach Tawheed to your family, children and friends. Shirk has spread in many lands. People worship graves, saints and think prophets know the unseen. “O Allah, who has no god but You, make us live on Tawheed and the Sunnah. Make us die on it too, so we meet You pleased with us.
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