Knowledge & Devotion · Virtues of Good Deeds

Benefits of Islamic Practices and Actions

Explore the merits of various Islamic practices like prayer remembrances, Quran recitation, and fasting.

6 questions · Hard · about 3 minutes

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6 questions, about 3 minutes.

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1. What is a benefit of regularly saying the prescribed adhkar after the obligatory prayers?

  • They add great weight to one’s good deeds in the Balance. (correct answer)
  • They replace the obligatory prayers.
  • They guarantee worldly wealth.
  • They remove the need for repentance.

Why

Every righteous deed may add weight to a person’s good deeds in the Balance on the Day of Resurrection. Specific deeds are mentioned as especially weighty, including Laa ilaaha ill-Allah, remembrance of Allah, good character, and the adhkar after obligatory prayers. The Prophet ﷺ mentioned saying Subhan Allah, al-hamdu Lillah, and Allahu akbar ten times after every prayer, making one hundred and fifty on the tongue and one thousand five hundred in the Balance.

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2. What is a key benefit of reflecting on the meanings of the adhkar and Qur’an recited during prayer?

  • It helps attain presence of mind and prevents the heart from being distracted. (correct answer)
  • It makes the prayer valid without wudoo’.
  • It allows a person to think about worldly matters during prayer.
  • It removes the need to learn how to pray properly.

Why

A worshipper should focus on the prayer and humble himself before Allah. One of the greatest means of attaining presence of mind is reflecting on the meanings of the prayer’s adhkar and the Qur’an recited in it. A person who does not know Arabic should try to learn the meanings as much as possible. If he cannot, he should still bear in mind Allah’s greatness, His watching over him, death, and the seriousness of standing before Allah.

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3. Who is given precedence in leading the prayer when people differ in Qur’an knowledge?

  • The one who has the most knowledge of the Book of Allah. (correct answer)
  • The wealthiest person in the group.
  • The oldest person in every case, even if others know more Qur’an.
  • Anyone who memorized a few verses most recently.

Why

One of the worldly honours given to the one who memorizes and knows the Qur’an is precedence in leading the prayer. The Prophet ﷺ said that the people should be led by the one among them who has the most knowledge of the Book of Allah. If they are equal in Qur’an knowledge, then other factors are considered, such as knowledge of the Sunnah.

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4. What is one major benefit of listening attentively to the Qur’an?

  • Increased guidance, beneficial knowledge, renewed faith, and insight into one’s religion. (correct answer)
  • Being excused from understanding or acting upon the Qur’an.
  • Immediate forgiveness for all past sins without repentance.
  • No need to perform other religious duties.

Why

Allah commands believers to listen to the Qur’an attentively and remain silent when it is recited. True listening means hearing with an attentive heart and pondering the meaning as much as one is able. This brings great good, beneficial knowledge, renewed faith, increased guidance, and insight into religion. A person may be rewarded for listening or reciting even if he does not understand everything, but he should still strive to understand and act upon the Qur’an.

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5. Why is fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah beneficial for Muslims who are not performing Hajj?

  • It expiates sins from the previous year and the coming year. (correct answer)
  • It is obligatory for every Muslim.
  • It replaces the fasts of Ramadan.
  • It commemorates the Hijrah to Madinah.

Why

Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah is a great virtue for Muslims who are not performing Hajj. The Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting on this day and said that it expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year. For the pilgrim standing at ‘Arafah, however, fasting on that day is not Sunnah, because the Prophet ﷺ did not fast there on that day.

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6. What happens if a person sincerely intends to do a righteous deed but is prevented by a valid excuse?

  • He may receive the basic reward of the deed he sincerely intended. (correct answer)
  • He receives no reward at all.
  • He receives more reward than the one who actually did the deed in every way.
  • His intention only counts if other people know about it.

Why

If a person sincerely wants to do a good deed and is prevented by a legitimate excuse such as sickness or incapacity, he may receive the basic reward of the deed he intended. However, this does not mean he receives every extra virtue connected to physically doing that deed. In the case of fasting, the source explains that the special promise of entering through the gate of ar-Rayyaan appears to be an extra virtue for those who actually fast, especially those who do much voluntary fasting.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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