6.4, Ways of Doing Good

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

We know our obligations towards people, and we understand the rights of animals, but what, if anything, does Islam say about plants, gardening and agriculture?

Jabir (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “When a Muslim plants a tree, whatever is eaten from it is charity from him and whatever is stolen is charity and whatever is subtracted from it is charity.” (Muslim)

Another narration says: “If a Muslim plants a tree, or sows a field, and men and beasts and birds eat from it, all of it is charity from him.”

We see here the importance of gardening and agriculture, and how rewarding it can be as a pastime. Also, the one for whom it is an occupation; we see the reward for bearing patiently any loss suffered due to theft or loss.

Returning back to the rights of men, Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “He who performs his Wudhu perfectly and comes to Jumuah prayer and listens (to the Khutbah) silently, the sins which he has committed since the previous Friday plus three more days (i.e., 10 days) will be forgiven for him. One who distracts himself with pebbles during the Khutbah will not get the (Jumu`ah) reward.” (Muslim)

Firstly, we see here a duty on the part of the Khateeb (the Imaam) towards the attendees to deliver a brief Khutbah, and to try and make it as engaging as possible. Further, he has a duty to arrive on time, to make the necessary preparations, to rest beforehand so that he is concentrated, and so on.

Secondly, we see a duty on the part of the attendees towards the Khateeb to make the necessary preparations and arrive early, to listen silently, to not make conversation or gestures with those around, to not play with objects nearby, to rest beforehand so that they do not sleep through the sermon, and so on.

If these requirements are met, then the excellence of Jumuah (the Friday prayer), which includes the sermon, is that the minor sins committed in the previous ten days are forgiven.

Lastly, I end with the saying of the Messenger of Allah (SAW): “Allah will surely speak with every one of you without an interpreter. He (the man) will look at his right side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before, and he will look to his left side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before. Then he will look in front of him and will find nothing but Hell-fire facing him. So protect (yourselves) from (Hell) Fire, by giving in charity even half a date; and if he does not finds it, then with a kind word.”