whatever brings one closer to Allah, a word that combines qualities very highly commendable
and praiseworthy.
The birr is the best of what is in the life of this world and that of the hereafter. The best of this
life is whatever Allah makes available to any of His servants such as guidance, bounties, and
enjoyable things. The best of the life to come is the eternal bliss which is residence in
Paradise; may Allah enable us to enjoy both blessings by His mercy and grace, Allahomma
ameen. The Messenger of Allah has said, "Uphold telling the truth, for it shall lead you to
birr."
Birr means goodness, a word which combines all good attributes. It implies whatever good
deeds bring one closer to Allah, the Honoured One, the Most Exalted. The well of Zamzam is
called barra due to the abundance of its benefits and of its water.
Al-Barr does not do anything ugly or abominable. He has been Gracious unto those who seek
His pleasure by showing them the way how to, and unto the worshippers by His Favours and
the granting of success to them. Al-Barr is kind unto those who seek His benevolence and His
giving, unto the worshippers by beautifully rewarding them. He never ceases giving
benevolently because of one's disobedience to Him.
A servant of Allah may be described as barr. A servant of Allah can be barr according to the
extent of his deeds of righteousness, to his being the first and the foremost to observe the right
of his parents, teachers, and mentors.
One of the ways wherein a servant of Allah can fashion his conduct after following the light
of this Attribute is to befriend the believers who are sincere in their belief, who are acquainted
with the secrets of belief. When someone mentions this Attribute quite often, his conduct will
then personify it, and love for all servants of Allah will then be planted in his heart, and all
people will love him with sincerity.
Allah has combined all the aspects of birr in one of the verses of Surat al-Baqarah when He
said:
It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the east and the west, but
righteousness is this: that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the
book and the prophets and give away wealth out of love for His sake to those near in kin, to
the orphans, the needy, the wayfarer, the beggars, and for (the emancipation of) the slaves,
and keep up prayers and pay the zakat, and those who fulfill their promise when they promise,
and those who persevere when in distress and affliction and during the time of conflict: these
are they who are true (to themselves), and these are they who guard (themselves against evil)
(2:177).