Pious deeds are those which are done for Allah’s sake/ to please Allah OR which are done for obedience to Allah. Though all pious (compensable) deeds are rewarded by Allah, but every pious deed is not to be considered as done in Allah’s way/’fee sabilillah’. The term ‘fee sabilillah’/ in Allah’s way is used in Quran to refer to such deeds which are done on behalf of Allah. Pious deeds may be divided into two categories; those which are done for doer’s own betterment; and which are done for other people’s betterment. Such pious deeds which are done for other people’s betterment are actually done on behalf of Allah because it is Allah’s grace to seek betterment of His creatures; such pious deeds are called done in Allah’s way/ ‘fee sabilillah’.
It may be noted that deeds done in Allah’s way can be only such deeds which are done for obedience to Allah; as deeds done in Allah’s way are done on behalf of Allah, such deeds can be only those done for obedience to Allah. Allah directs mankind to follow Muhammad (saw) so that Allah may also like such deeds and bless the doer with His Love and with His Forgiveness.
“Say [Muhammad (saw)] "If you should love Allah , then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful”(al-imran-31).
It means deeds done for obedience to Allah are only such deeds which are done following our Nabi (saw); and deeds done in Allah’s way/ ‘fee sabilillah’ are deeds done for Allah’s obedience, it means deeds done in Allah’s way/ ‘fee sabilillah’ are only those deeds which are done following our Nabi (saw).
Quran states that deeds done in Allah’s way are better than other pious deeds. Allah says:
“And if you are killed in the cause of Allah or die - then forgiveness from Allah and mercy are better than whatever they accumulate [in this world]” (al-imran-157).
This verse is stating ‘if a person is killed or dies (a natural death) while he is struggling in Allah’s way, he deserves such Forgiveness and Mercy from Allah, which is better than all what is accumulated by him. As in this world apart from worldly things, pious deeds are also accumulated, it means deeds done in Allah’s way are more rewarding than ordinary pious deeds.
It may also be noted that all deeds done to enforce Allah’s system/ ‘Deen’ are done in Allah’s way; in other words, deeds done to establish and enforce Islamic systems are more rewarding than such pious deeds which are of personal nature, aiming at personal virtue/spiritual elevation.
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