The seventh act of worship is not only doing good deeds but also urging others to do so.  The Holy Quran mentions in (Surah  3:  Ayah  110):

 كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ

وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ

 YOU ARE THE BEST COMMUNITY EVOLVED TO MANKIND,

YOU ENJOIN WHAT IS GOOD, AND FORBID EVIL. 

 

A Muslim who has improved and refined himself through the process of Major Jihad, is not supposed to be satisfied and call it quits—he is to go further.  He is not to sit passively, caring little if any.

Such a Muslim is to enjoin people around him to what is good, and to urge them toward that goal, and to keep doing so.  A Muslim is to be an expansionist, a person of action, one of true involvement.  Being good is not enough.  A Muslim is to encourage others to be good, too, and to do good deeds.

    This act of worship is just as important a cornerstone as that of Jihad; it is basic, important, and fundamental.  It is an act of worship, a weighty form of worship, and one of the best kinds of obedience to Allah.

    Through this means others are more likely to be stimulated, to start thinking of doing good deeds and then applying them.  People will find encouragement and they are more likely to become involved, to produce and to improve upon themselves.  When they are enjoined to what is good, they themselves may start encouraging others toward deeds of decency and goodness.  When this happens, more and more people will do good deeds, and the whole community, if not society, will improve.

 

WHAT ARE THE GOOD DEEDS?  

    You have read under the subject of Jihad that a person must exert himself or herself and strive to improve his or her inner self and to refine it.  This in itself is a form of good deeds.

► Enjoining others to what is good starts in the family, and we first learn about it as children.  Parents must show them the way, to make loving children of them, kind and considerate, with a spirit of sharing and cooperation, with fairness in their hearts, with decency and modesty, with compassion and understanding, with honesty and trustworthiness, children who will speak the truth and defend it.

► This is also to be urged upon others, so that this spirit will spread, and people will start urging their friends to do so.  This may seem farfetched, but it is something possible, and it can be done.

► Good deeds also mean working for what is good as the Islamic teachings tell us.  The books of Hadith are full of sayings that, if applied, will elevate a person to the highest heights of goodness of character.

► Of course good deeds in the community are of vital importance; helping others, assisting anyone who needs assistance, and urging others to be fair.  But beyond that Muslims can start many projects and organizations which will be of benefit to the society, and they may join other organizations which are dedicated to the welfare of mankind and ensure that Allah's other creations on earth are not destroyed or spoiled.

► Good deeds also mean the call for Islam and helping others to understand the details of the call.  But first a person himself has to study Islam in detail, then he may help others in that endeavor.

► In America there are three major components which are in dire need of such an effort:

1. To educate children Islamicly and encourage every Muslim family to join in the endeavor,

2. To communicate with local Muslims and study with them the many Islamic teachings and instructions, and

3. To Islamicly educate those who convert to Islam, and who are thirsty for Islamic knowledge and information.

► Teaching and talking is not enough.  What is sadly lacking in this country are books, concerning Islam in English, books of good quality and high caliber.  Thus, anyone who can write accurately about Islam and produce some high quality books dealing with various Islamic subjects will have done a great service.  The reason for that is that books are reproducible, usable by many and they are cumulative.  Such works, therefore, are an important form of doing good deeds.

► Good deeds do not mean talking only, they mean action, involvement, production, accomplish­ment, and work.  It is only when words are interpreted into deeds that an Islamic society will prosper.  As long as all the Islamic information remains in words without deeds, Islam will remain dormant.

► This is the reason why Allah (swt) has mentioned the following Ayah 62 times in the Holy Quran (Surah 2:  Ayah  25):

 وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِين آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ

 O' MUHAMMAD) GIVE GLAD TIDINGS TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND

DO GOOD DEEDS OF GARDENS IN WHICH RIVERS FLOW ...

Yes, the Ayah has been mentioned numerous times in the Holy Quran to bring to the attention of man the importance of good deeds.

 

SUPPOSE NO ONE LISTENS:  

    Muslims must try, and they must be aware that they are to try.  When you enjoin others to do good deeds, some may listen while others may ignore you.  If ignored, you will have lost nothing.  If you are listened to, people may act according to your call or neglect to do so.  If they act according to your call, you will have succeeded, and you will have produced the sweet result you are after.  It is not expected that more than 10 percent of the people will respond positively, this is probably true in this day and age.  But a Muslim who is very determined will continue in this noble effort, and he or she will encourage and urge others, by words and example, to work for Islam, the Muslim community and the Muslim society.  By going along this course, not to be given to discouragement, one will find that the doors will often open surprisingly, and many good responses may be the result.

    Discouragement is always expected, but the sweetness is when there is a good response.  Allah (swt) shows the way, and it is up to you to act.  Allah also gives in great measure when you least expect it.

 

CAN I ENJOIN WHAT IS GOOD IN MY SCHOOL?  

    As a student of course you can do your share of urging and encouraging others to do good, especially in school.  You may also explain Islam the best you can, and let your friends understand it better.  Islam should be made available to everyone so that each and every person sees its beauty and is impressed by its attraction, and is taken by its guidelines.

    As students or adults, each Muslim in this country carries a heavy responsibility on his or her  shoulders, and that is making Islam known to others.

    Enjoining others to do good is an act of worship.  Each time you do so, you are meritoriously rewarded by Allah (Ajr) , and the more so rewarded the more is your gain.