Last week we explored the importance of good friends and keeping good company. Our social circle influences our character and how we develop socially.

We had a small insight into the social life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and how his close friends were loyal to him and helped him in his mission. Muhammad had really close companions who are known as the Sahabah. There were four who were particularly close and they are known as the four rightly guided Caliphs.

I will start with the story of the first rightly guided Caliph, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (573–634 CE). He was the first Caliph of Islam, who was a close friend and trusted companion of the Prophet.

He was known for his strong faith and support during critical moments, such as the migration (Hijrah) to Medina.

He also was a kind and charitable person, which the following Hadith narrates.

“Every morning, after leading the Fajr prayer, Abu Bakr would walk far into the outskirts of Medina. Curious about this, Umar ibn al-Khattab, who is the second rightly guided Caliph, decided to follow him one day. Keeping a distance to avoid being seen, Umar watched Abu Bakr enter a small, rundown home. He remained there for a long time, well past sunrise, before quietly leaving and heading back to Medina.

“Once Abu Bakr was out of sight, Umar approached the home and knocked on the door. An elderly, blind woman answered, surrounded by children running about. Umar greeted her and asked, ‘Who is the man that visits you every day?’ The woman replied, ‘I don’t know his name. He never told me.’

“Umar asked, ‘What does he do for you?’

“‘May Allah bless him,’ she said. ‘Every morning, he comes here, cleans my house, washes our clothes, grinds our wheat, bakes our bread, and cooks our breakfast. Then, he leaves without saying a word.’

“Stunned, Umar asked, ‘Do you give him anything for his work?’

“‘No,’ she replied, ‘he accepts nothing from us.’

“Umar could no longer hold back his tears at that moment. He whispered to himself, ‘You have exhausted us, O Abu Bakr (RA). You have set a standard that no successor can ever match.’”

Abu Bakr (RA) did not seek recognition, praise, or compensation for his actions. For him, service to Allah’s creation was an extension of his love for Allah.

Imagine how many deeds he did that were never recorded – acts of kindness and service known only to Allah. He set his standards, unaffected by the expectations of others. No task was too small, no service beneath him.

Despite being the leader of the Ummah, he remained deeply grounded. “The leader of a people is their servant.“ (Hadith 34,40 Hadith Shah Waliullah).

This is a wonderful example to follow, do good for the pleasure of Allah and not for the praise of men.

Over this holiday period take time out to visit a neighbour, a care home, the hospital, check on your elderly relatives, better still check on all your relatives and your friends. Reach out and touch somebody’s hand, make this a better place, because you can.

As believers, we should strive to do acts of goodness known only to Allah. Whether it’s helping a neighbour in need, even if the deed is a bit of conversation or a smile. A power act is to make silent du’a for someone, or secretly support a cause, but above all, let there be a part of our worship hidden from the world.

Abu Bakr didn’t serve for recognition or reward. May we be inspired to follow his example, weaving quiet acts of goodness into our daily lives and seeking no one’s approval but Allah’s.

Bermuda let us remember over the coming days to visit the aged, sick and the lonely. Please do something charitable today and every day, it would do you and those we reach out to a world of good.

Pray for peace for Bermuda and for the world. Stand up for justice, rebuke genocide and demand immediate ceasefire; the senseless bombings must end.

The senseless killings in our homeland must stop, please stop and care for one another now. Have a safe and happy holiday, doing good things and random acts of kindness.

As salaamu alaikum (peace be unto you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam