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Racing to do Good

Imām Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn

A discussion on the importance of being eager to please Allāh and the dangers of laziness.

Imām Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn – hafiẓahullāh- said:

“Hastening (to do good) is the opposite of being lazy and sluggish. So whenever a person is lazy and sluggish, then he will certainly miss out on a lot of good. This is why the Prophet ﷺ said: “The strong Believer is better and more beloved to Allāh that a weak Believer, yet in each of them there is good. So be eager in doing that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allāh. and do not be lazy.” 1 … Sometimes, due to a person’s laziness in doing good actions, he ends up not doing the good; either because death overtakes him, or he is struck with some illness (which incapacitates him) or the opportunity just passes him by. The Prophet ﷺ said about this: “When anyone of you intends to perform the Ḥajj (Pilgrimage), then let him hasten in doing so; for perhaps he may later be struck with an illness, or he may lose his riding beast, or he may be diverted by some other need.”2 Thus, there are many reasons which may prevent a person from doing good, so one must hasten in doing good and not be lazy.”3

Endnotes:
[1] Related by Muslim (no. 2664).
[2] Ḥasan: Related by Ibn Mājah (no. 2883). It was authenticated by al-Albānī in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ(no. 6004).
[3] Sharḥ Rīyaḍus-al-Ṣāliḥīn (3/7-8), slightly abridged.

Published: July 5, 2007
Edited: August 15, 2022