Forty Gems of Beauty — Page 36
36 Explanatory Notes This subtle Hadith throws a basic light on the philosophy underlying human deeds. It is evident that seemingly good deeds are of many types. Some acts are done by sheer force of habit, some in imitation of other people, and yet some for show and advertisement. But our master, the Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), says that all these deeds are barren of result and carry no weight in the balance of the God of Islam and that correct deeds are the ones done with a true intention and a sincere mind. Such a deed is the one that is deserving of a true reward from God. The truth of the matter is that, so long as the heart of a man and his tongue and his limbs, i. e. , hands, feet and other parts, are not working in harmony in the performance of a deed, such a deed has no value. A true motive in mind, testimony by word of mouth of this purity of motive, and hands and feet bearing practical witness to this honesty of purpose, make an act deserving of acceptance. If a person lacks the truthfulness of motive, he is a hypocrite. If his tongue bears no testimony to his inner feeling, he is a coward. And if his hands and feet do not act in harmony with his declared purpose, he is a poor performer. A truthful act, therefore, is one that is impelled by a true motive. With the honesty of purpose, a man can make his seemingly worldly acts superior virtues of a religious character. The Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be on him) says in this connection, that if a husband puts a morsel in the mouth of his wife because it is the will of His Maker that he provides his wife with subsistence and sees to her comfort, this act of his would therefore certainly be treated, in the presence of God, as an act of piety. But it is a matter of regret that thousands of men in this world offer Prayers [only] because they got into the habit from early childhood. And again, there are thousands who observe fast [solely] because the people around them do so. And