al-Birr and al-Ithm (Piety and Evil)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim



In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

al-Birr and al-Ithm

An Nawwas ibn Sam'an, reported that the Messenger of Allah said:




"Al-Bir (piety and righteousness) entails good conduct, while Al-Ithm (evil) is that which crosses your mind and which you hate for people to find out about"

Also, Wabisah ibn Ma'bad said: "I came to the Messenger of Allah , who then said:




"You came to ask about Al-Bir?' I said "Yes." He said. "Seek the answer in your heart! Al- Bir is that which your inner self feels good about, and that which your heart feels good about. Al-Ithm is that (evil thought) which crosses your mind and which is persistent (as being evil) in your inner-self, even if the people give you a Fatawa, time and again allowing what you feel unease about"

Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami said "This Hadith is among the Messenger's unique speeches, and one of the richest in meaning. Al-Bir is a unique word that entails each and every act of righteousness and piety. As for Al-Ithm, it is also a unique word that entails each and every act of sin and evil, whether major or minor. This is why the Prophet gave a contrast between the two words, treating them as antonyms."




Literally, Al-Bir entails meanings of obedience and truthfulness, as stated in Lisan Al 'Arab (Arabic Dictionary). The scholars have described Al-Bir as:"Al-Bir means to keep the relations, to be kind, to be grateful and to be kind with the friends and with one's company that he keeps. It also means to obey; and all these attitudes and types of good behavior combined describe good conduct."

Also, Ibn 'Hajar Al-Haytami said: "Al-Bir is a unique word that entails all acts of righteousness and good conduct". This is the general definition that conforms with the Hadith related by An-Nawwas ibn Sam'an, in which the Prophet describes Al-Bir as, "good conduct" while in the Hadith by Wabisah, he defines it as, "that which your inner-self feels good about."

Al-Bir, therefore, is general in meaning, and it entails treating the creation, such as and especially the parents, with kindness. Also, Al-Bir entails each and every act of piety and righteousness. Allah azza wa jal said:

"It is not Birr that you turn your faces towards the east and (or) west in prayers; but Al-Birr is the quality of one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to the poor, and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salat, and gives the Zakat, and who fulfill their covenant when they make it, and who are As-Sabirin (the Patient Ones) in extreme poverty and in ailment (disease) and at times of fighting (during battles). Such are the people of the truth and are Al-Muttaqun (The Pious)." 2 :177




Sometimes, Al-Bir is coupled with the word Taqwa, such as:

"Help you one another in Al-Birr and Taqwa; but do not help one another in sin and transgression." 5:2




In this case, Al-Birr means to treat people with kindness, while At-Taqwa means to obey Allah in what He has commanded and to refrain from what he has Prohibited. Furthermore, Al-Birr sometimes means, "To practice the obligations", while at-Taqwa means, "To avoid the prohibitions."

Source: IslamicAwakening

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:



"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:

Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,

Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."

[Ahmad]