Define righteousness by faith and moral conduct

Verse: 2:177
Arabic Text

لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ

Translation

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is 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; who fulfills their promise when they promise; and who is patient in poverty and hardship and during battle.

Description

True righteousness is having faith in Allah and doing good deeds, like helping others and being honest and patient.

Detailed Explanation

In this verse, Allah teaches us what true righteousness, or goodness, really means. It’s not just about facing a specific direction during prayers, like towards the east or the west. Instead, true righteousness is rooted in our faith and actions. This means having belief in Allah, the Day of Judgment, the angels, the Holy Books like the Quran, and all the prophets, including Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Prophet Isa (PBUH). Besides having the right beliefs, it's equally important to engage in actions that reflect our faith. This includes giving charity, especially to those who are close to us, like family, and also to those in need, like orphans, the poor, travelers, and freeing those who are unjustly enslaved. Establishing regular prayers and giving the obligatory charity, known as zakah, are key practices that demonstrate our commitment. It's also important to keep promises and remain patient in difficult times, such as during hardship or struggles. The verse emphasizes that genuine faith goes hand-in-hand with doing good and acting justly. In Tafsir Ibn Kathir, it's explained that these attributes are signs of those who are truthful in their faith and conscious of Allah. This is important because it guides us to blend our belief with compassion and justice in our daily lives, showing that what truly matters to Allah is not just what we believe but also what we do for others and how we uphold our values.