To be righteous is doing that which is right: acting rightly or justly, conforming to the standard of the divine or the moral law, to be free from guilt or sin, just, upright, virtuous. The antonym is wickedness which entails sinfulness and viciousness. According to the great thinker Yaşar Nuri Öztürk righteousness is service to mankind and peace in thought and in deed. God is far removed from mischief makers and very near to doers of good. "Shall We treat those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, the same as those who do mischief on earth? Shall We treat those who guard against evil, the same as those who turn aside from the right?" (38/28)
GOD LOVES THE RIGHTEOUS
On those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, will ((Allah)) Most Gracious bestow love (19/96)
Those who have faith and do righteous deeds,- they are the best of creatures. Their reward is with Allah. Gardens of Eternity, beneath which rivers flow; they will dwell therein for ever (98/7-8)
God favors those, who work for the benefit of mankind, and who spends of his savings to build schools and hospitals, fountains and temples; who make donations to charitable foundations. Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır, Prof. Dr.Yaşar Nuri Öztürk who continued to the understanding and spread of Islam, to quote but a few among the commentators and authors in Turkey have been great contributors to the cause of Islam. Authors that produce books to promote culture and science; Hayrettin Karacan, the ecologist, a devoted scientist and philanthropist; doctors who receive no fees from the poor and bring them medicines, teachers who bring up and edify children with greatest sacrifice, ministers, prime minister, mayor who devote their life to welfare of the public are among the righteous persons. These persons are those who must have gained God's favor provided they are believers.
PROPHETS ARE AMONG THE RIGHTEOUS
"O my Lord! bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous; (26/83)
“So he smiled, amused at her speech; and he said: "O my Lord! so order me that I may be grateful for Thy favours, which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee: And admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants." (27/19)
Take Thou my soul (at death) as one submitting to Thy will (as a Muslim), and unite me with the righteous." (12/101)
The Qur'an enumerates the attributes of prophets as peacemaker, virtuous, executor of divine commandments, righteous, beneficent, philanthropist, etc.
REAL INHERITORS OF THE EARTH
My servants the righteous, shall inherit the earth." (21/105)
Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: 'They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me. 'If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked. (24/55)
The righteous will come into the possession of the earth; they will be the rulers and work for the welfare of the mankind in due conformity with God's law.
THREE CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION
Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (2/62)
Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (5/69)
The Almighty lays down the condition to be saved: Whoever believes in God's unity will be taken to task for his offenses on the Judgment Day and those who do good works will be among the saved. To believe and to do good will have their rewards regardless of the denomination of which one is a member. Pasteur, the discoverer of the vaccine against the rabies and Edison, who had made the design for a complete electrical distribution system for lighting and power, culminating in the installation (1881-82) of the world's first central electric-light power plant in New York City are expected to be rewarded for their achievements having the objective of the welfare of the community. Regardless of the religion they practiced, so long they believed in God and the Judgment Day, they should be considered worthy of being saved. Yet, if they had had no belief their doing will not avail to save him. "The parable of those who reject their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous day: No power have they over aught that they have earned: that is the straying far, far (from the goal)." (14/18)
TRANSFORMATION OF EVIL INTO GOOD
Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful, (25/70)
Those who believe and work righteous deeds,- from them shall We blot out all evil (that may be) in them, and We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds. (29/7)
The righteous will see his evil doings turned into good and pardoned.
REWARD FOR THE RIGHTEOUS
Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions. (16/97)
On those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, will ((Allah)) Most Gracious bestow love. (19/96)
Then, as to those who believed and did righteous deeds, their Lord will admit them to His Mercy that will be the achievement for all to see. (45-30)
The righteous will receive double rewards for his deeds, both here and hereafter. He will be under the protection of the Supreme Being.
PENITENTS