Good deeds and righteous actions - in the Quran

In the Quran, "good deeds" and "righteous actions" generally refer to actions that are in accordance with Allah's commandments and that are done with sincerity and humility. The Quran emphasizes the importance of performing good deeds and engaging in righteous actions as a means of earning Allah's favor and attaining salvation in the afterlife. However, the Quran also emphasizes that good deeds and righteous actions must be done with the right intention and motivation, and that they should not be done for the sake of showing off or seeking praise from others.

There is no specific character or figure in the Quran that represents good deeds or righteous actions. Rather, these concepts are woven throughout the text and are emphasized as important qualities for all believers to strive for. The Quran encourages believers to engage in acts of charity, to be just and fair in their dealings with others, to treat their families and neighbors with kindness and respect, and to devote themselves to the worship of Allah.

Some verses in the Quran that emphasize the importance of good deeds and righteous actions include:

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:195 - "And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good."

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:277 - "Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds and established prayer and given zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve."

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:177 - "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."

Surah Al-An'am 6:162 - "Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds."

Surah Al-A'raf 7:42 - "But those who believed and did righteous deeds - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally."

Surah Al-Ra'd 13:22 - "And those who are patient, seeking the countenance of their Lord, and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home."

Surah Al-Hajj 22:77 - "O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good - that you may succeed."

Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:102-103 - "Then those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds], they will be the successful. But those whose scales are light, they are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally."

Surah Al-Hadid 57:12 - "On that Day you will see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, [it will be said], "Your good tidings today are [of] gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally." That is what is the great attainment."

Surah Al-Mumtahanah 60:12 - "O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their hands and feet, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

Surah Al-Mulk 67:2 - "It is He who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving."

Surah Al-Insan 76:22 - "And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude."

Surah Al-Infitar 82:6-9 - "O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous, who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you? In whatever form He willed has He assembled you. Nay, but you deny the Last Judgment. And indeed, there are appointed over you angels, who are noble and recorders, they know whatever you do."

Surah Al-Imran 3:114 - "They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous."

Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:93 - "There shall be no blame upon those who believe and do good deeds for what they have eaten [in the past] if they [now] fear Allah and believe and do good deeds, and then fear Allah and believe, and then fear Allah and do good; and Allah loves the doers of good."

Surah Al-Ra'd 13:22 - "And those who are patient, seeking the countenance of their Lord, and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home."

Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:102-103 - "Then those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds], they will be the successful. But those whose scales are light, they are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally."

Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:61 - "And, [O Muhammad], say, "O My Lord, let my entry be good, and let me exit be good. And grant me from Yourself a supporting authority."

Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13 - "O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted."

Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:20 - "Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

Surah Al-Qadr 97:3 - "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months."

Surah Al-Asr 103:1-3 - "By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience."

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:195 - "And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good."

Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:93 - "There shall be no blame upon those who believe and do good deeds for what they have eaten [in the past] if they [now] fear Allah and believe and do good deeds, and then fear Allah and believe, and then fear Allah and do good; and Allah loves the doers of good."

Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:9 - "Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds [that] for them there is forgiveness and great reward."

Surah Al-Furqan 25:70 - "Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful."

Surah Fatir 35:29 - "Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend [in His cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a profit that will never perish."

Surah Al-A'la 87:14-15 - "Indeed, your efforts are diverse. As for he who gives and fears Allah, and believes in the best [reward]."

Surah Al-Qadr 97:1-5 - "Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."

Surah Al-An'am 6:162 - "Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds."

Surah Al-Nahl 16:97 - "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do."

Surah Al-Kahf 18:46 - "Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope."

Surah Al-Insan 76:22 - "And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude."

Surah Al-Infitar 82:6-9 - "O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous, who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you? In whatever form He willed has He assembled you. Nay, but you deny the Last Judgment. And indeed, there are appointed over you angels, who are noble and recorders, they know whatever you do."

Surah Al-Balad 90:11-16 - "But he has not broken through the difficult pass. And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? It is the freeing of a slave, or feeding on a day of severe hunger an orphan of near relationship, or a needy person in misery. And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion."

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:277 - "Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds and established prayer and given zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve."

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:177 - "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."

Surah Al-A'raf 7:42 - "But those who believed and did righteous deeds - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally."

Surah Al-Nahl 16:97 - "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do."

Surah Al-Isra 17:19 - "And whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer - it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah]."

Surah Al-Isra 17:19 - "And whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer - it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah]."

Surah Al-Kahf 18:107 - "Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - they will have the Gardens of Paradise as a lodging,"

Surah Al-Hajj 22:77 - "O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good - that you may succeed."

Surah Al-Qasas 28:77 - "But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters."

Surah Al-Hadid 57:18 - "Indeed, the charitable men and charitable women, and those who lend Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward."

Surah Al-Hadid 57:12 - "On that Day you will see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, [it will be said], "Your good tidings today are [of] gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally." That is what is the great attainment."

Surah Al-Hadid 57:7 - "Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward."

Surah Al-Mulk 67:2 - "It is He who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving."

Surah Al-A'la 87:14-15 - "Indeed, your efforts are diverse. As for he who gives and fears Allah, and believes in the best [reward]."

Surah Al-Qadr 97:1-5 - "Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."

Surah Al-Qadr 97:3 - "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months."

Surah Al-Ra'd 13:22 - "And those who are patient, seeking the countenance of their Lord, and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home."

Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13 - "O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted."

Surah Al-Nahl 16:97 - "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do."

Surah Al-Balad 90:11-16 - "But he has not broken through the difficult pass. And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? It is the freeing of a slave, or feeding on a day of severe hunger an orphan of near relationship, or a needy person in misery. And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion."

Surah Al-Isra 17:19 - "And whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer - it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah]."

Surah Al-Kahf 18:110 - "Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."

Surah Al-Kahf 18:46 - "Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope."

Surah Al-Hadid 57:18 - "Indeed, the charitable men and charitable women, and those who lend Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward."

Surah Al-Anbiya 21:94 - "So whoever does righteous deeds while he is a believer - no denial will there be for his effort, and indeed We, of it, are recorders."

Surah Al-Ra'd 13:22 - "And those who are patient, seeking the countenance of their Lord, and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home."

Surah Al-Hajj 22:77 - "O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good - that you may succeed."

Surah Al-Insan 76:22 - "And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude."

Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:102-103 - "Then those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds], they will be the successful. But those whose scales are light, they are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally."

Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:61 - "And, [O Muhammad], say, "O My Lord, let my entry be good, and let me exit be good. And grant me from Yourself a supporting authority."

Surah Al-Furqan 25:70 - "Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful."

Surah Al-Qasas 28:77 - "But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters."

Surah Fatir 35:29 - "Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend [in His cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a profit that will never perish."

Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13 - "O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted."

Surah Al-Hadid 57:18 - "Indeed, the charitable men and charitable women, and those who lend Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward."

Surah Al-Hadid 57:12 - "On that Day you will see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, [it will be said], "Your good tidings today are [of] gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally." That is what is the great attainment."

Surah Al-Hadid 57:7 - "Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward."

Surah Al-Mumtahanah 60:12 - "O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their hands and feet, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

Surah Al-Mulk 67:2 - "It is He who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving."

Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:20 - "Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

Surah Al-Muddaththir 74:38-41 - "Every soul, for what it has earned, will be retained. Except for the companions of the right, [who will be] in gardens, questioning each other about the guilty: 'What put you into Saqar?' They will say, 'We were not of those who prayed.'"

Surah Al-Insan 76:22 - "And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude."

Surah Al-Infitar 82:6-9 - "O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous, who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you? In whatever form He willed has He assembled you. Nay, but you deny the Last Judgment. And indeed, there are appointed over you angels, who are noble and recorders, they know whatever you do."

Surah Al-A'la 87:14-15 - "Indeed, your efforts are diverse. As for he who gives and fears Allah, and believes in the best [reward]."

Surah Al-Balad 90:11-16 - "But he has not broken through the difficult pass. And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? It is the freeing of a slave, or feeding on a day of severe hunger an orphan of near relationship, or a needy person in misery. And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion."

Surah Al-Nahl 16:97 - "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do."

Surah Al-Qadr 97:1-5 - "Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."

Surah Al-Qadr 97:3 - "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months."

Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:102-103 - "Then those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds], they will be the successful. But those whose scales are light, they are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally."

Surah Al-Asr 103:1-3 - "By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience."

This verse emphasizes the importance of giving to those in need, even if it means sacrificing something one loves, and doing so purely for the sake of Allah. It highlights the need to seek the countenance of Allah rather than seeking rewards or gratitude from those who are being helped.