The Second Principle: Action#

The second principle is action - acting upon the knowledge one has acquired. Knowledge without action is of no benefit.

Quranic Evidence#

“O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.” (Quran 61:2-3)

“And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.” (Quran 4:124)

Hadith Evidence#

• The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The most beloved places to Allah are the mosques, and the most disliked places to Allah are the markets.” (Muslim)
• The Prophet (ﷺ) also said: “Actions are by intentions, and every person will have what he intended.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

What is Action?#

Action in this context refers to:

1. Implementing the knowledge - Putting what one learns into practice
2. Following the commands - Obeying Allah’s commands and avoiding His prohibitions
3. Worshipping Allah - Performing acts of worship with sincerity
4. Avoiding shirk - Staying away from all forms of polytheism

The Relationship Between Knowledge and Action#

• Knowledge is the foundation and prerequisite for action
• Action is the fruit and result of knowledge
• Without knowledge, action becomes meaningless
• Without action, knowledge becomes useless

Types of Actions Required#

The Importance of Sincere Action#

• Actions must be done sincerely for Allah’s sake
• Actions must be in accordance with the Sunnah
• Actions must be continuous and consistent
• Actions must be done with the best of one’s ability

Key Lessons#

• Knowledge must be followed by action
• Actions are judged by intentions
• Sincere action is the key to success
• Continuous action leads to spiritual growth

Next: Chapter 3 – The Third Principle - Calling to Allah