True Goodness

Just the other day, I was listening to a reminder on the following ayah:

"Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous." (2:177)

In this reminder, Ustaadh Nouman was basically explaining what goodness is, and how Allah defines it in this verse. What struck me the most, was straight after mentioning the core beliefs every Muslim should have, Allah went onto mention, spending for His sake, and being in service to the community. Allah could have mentioned Salaah first, or Hajj or even Zakah, yet He mentioned service to the community, the needy and the less fortunate. Because, you could perform 10 Hajj, pray all your Salaah - but if you are not spending your money, time, wealth for the sake of Allah, in the cause of Allah - to spread goodness and peace, then you are not embodying true goodness.

It scared me.

Especially after hearing about the wonderful work those beautiful, young students did. They were living proofs of birr (goodness), and their lives should inspire us to want to do good and to spread peace.

Afterall, that is what *true* goodness. Having a deep concern and care for those around us.

And I ask myself first... Do I spend enough for Allah? 

Do I care enough about the needy? How much am I even doing for the sake of Allah? :(

May Allah have mercy on Deah, Yusor and Razan. May He forgive their sins, elevate their ranks. widen their graves and fill it with light, and may He gran them Al-Firdaus al 'Alaa. 

As much as it hurts to know that we have lost three aspiring leaders, whose life and death, both have inspired many hearts and minds, it also makes us smile knowing, that one day when we have our children, they will have such role models to look up to, three giants whose footsteps will be worth following - for indeed they embodied goodness, and indeed they were upon a path and actions that our messenger (salallahu alayhi wasallam) called to. That is, being in service to others, and being a sunshine in someones grey world....