Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Among the creatures created by Allah (swt), the only creature with a will are humans. In order to distinguish good and bad, right and wrong, man has been granted an advantage called reason. Man has been given the opportunity to freely choose between them. For this very reason, humans have been subjected to a test by Allah (swt). The test, which is the purpose of our existence in life, has two main parts. First of all, it is our belief and deeds that we will perform as a result of our belief. In the first verses of the Surah al-Baqara, Allah (swt) states the following: “Alif, Lām, Meem. This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah. Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them, And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful.”[1]

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Deeds, in the most general sense, is work done for a purpose. In Islamic terminology, it means the deeds that a person does and does in accordance with the commandments of the religion. The source and motivation tool of the right and good deeds that we will display in the flow of our daily life is definitely the belief we have. Therefore, our good deeds are indicators of our valid faith. That is why there is a direct relationship between belief and deeds. We observe this situation especially in the month of Ramadan, when we realise its last days. Although we cannot see its reward in the hereafter for now, we show persistence in our fasting and prayers. Especially, our efforts to comprehend Laylatul Qadr as a manifestation of our unseen faith is a sign of our identity as a believer.
In the Quran, which was sent as a guide to humanity, the relationship between belief and deeds is explained through the story of Musa (as). When the tribe of Musa (as) disobeyed Allah and himself, our Lord ordered them to be warned as follows: “Say, “How wretched is that which your faith enjoins upon you, if you should be believers.””[2]

As it is pointed out in this verse, faith is the supervisor of the deeds performed by a person. The deeds that come from us are the reflection of our beliefs in practice. If we characterise it within the framework of cause and effect relationship, the cause of the resulting deeds is faith.

Dear Jama’ah!

The foundation of Islamic faith is tawhid. God exists and is one. He has no partner. He did not leave man alone, who was the most honourable being he created, and bestowed the knowledge of the good, the beautiful and the truth through the prophets. He showed how to turn this sacred knowledge into action. Islam has blessed us with the religion so that we can achieve the happiness of the world and the hereafter. A servant who knows Allah (swt) properly will have devotion, fulfils his orders and avoids his prohibitions. Allah (swt) expressed this truth as follows: “Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.”[3]

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

The soundest information about the good deeds that all mankind increasingly needed was revealed by our Prophet Muhammad (saw). Let us conclude our khutba with a hadith that enlightens us on this issue; “None of you [truly] believes until his desires are subservient to that which I have brought.”[4]

May Allah (swt) make us perform righteous deeds with a true faith throughout our lives! May those who revive Laylatul Qadr be among those whose deeds are accepted. Ameen.

[1] Surah Al-Baqara, 2:1-5
[2] Surah Al-Baqara, 2:93
[3] Surah Fatir, 35:28
[4] Kitâbü’l-Hücce, Bkz. Nevevî, Erbaûn, H.No: 41

Khutba-How does our faith affect our deeds