Follow up a bad deed with a good deed

Allah Almighty says,

And nothing has prevented Us from sending signs except that the former peoples denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel as a visible sign, but they wronged her. And We send not the signs except as a warning. Al-Isra:59

Allah Almighty is saying that He sent signs as warnings. This pandemic is a sign from Allah. It’s a very strong sign that something you can’t see and can’t fight, shoot or kill has confounded all the world’s leaders, politicians and scientists. They cannot do anything. Is it not a sign? A sign for what? It’s a warning.

Some people will take heed but others will not.

And We warn them, yet it adds nothing to them but enormous rebellion. Al-Isra:60

Unfortunately the more you warn some people the more they rebel. Instead of taking a step back to contemplate what they have done wrong, so they can rectify it, they plunge further into oppression, sins, delusion and deceit.

You should be mindful of the akhirah that any second you might leave this world, despite all the social distancing and face masks and gloves, you still might die for any reason.

This is a warning that you have the opportunity now to fix your life and shortcomings.

Allah is reminding us that those given their book in their right hand, will read their book and receive justice.

[Mention, O Muhammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand – those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed]. Al-Isra:71

You will be proud of the good things in your book and ashamed of the bad things. Now we have the opportunity to fix it.

Follow up a bad deed with a good deed.

Follow the bad deed with a good one to erase it, and engage others with beautiful character. (Tirmidhi)

So let’s do good deeds. Do something more charitable and sincere to get closer to Allah. Help someone in need. They maybe near you but you haven’t noticed them. They are in need but they do not beg. They might need your support the most. Search for them harder.

We ask Allah to make us understand His signs and become closer to Him and better. Ameen

Shaykh Haytham Tamim