There are 194 instances from the same root in 12 derived forms in the Quran while 102 instances, which are closely related in the verb (24), verbal noun (12), nominal noun (36), noun (3) and active participle (39) forms as shown in the table below are reviewed here, which have been prioritized:
Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com
Here is a review of 38 instances of muhsin in masculine form and 1 instance of muhsinaat in feminine form in the active participle form meaning good-doer. However, an Arabic word may have a different meaning in the different contexts.
Instances of muhsin
Here are details of 39 instances of muhsin in the active form meaning “good-doer” found in 39 verses across 20 suras in the Quran:
[2;58] And when we said: “You shall enter this town, then shall eat plentifully from wherever you have wished; and shall enter the gate prostrating, and say: “Repentance.” We will forgive your sins for you, and we will increase of the good doers (wa-sa’nazeedu al-muh’sineena).”
[2:112] Nay, whoever has submitted to God, and he is a good doer (wa-huwa muh’sinun), then for him there is his reward with his Lord, and there is no fear upon them, nor will they grieve.
[2:195] And you shall spend in God’s path, and should not throw into the destruction with your own hands. And you shall do good; indeed, God loves the good doers (wa-ahsinuu inna allaha yuhibbu al-muh’sineena).
[2:236] There is no sin upon you if you have divorced the women whom you do not touch them, nor do you specify a bridal payment for them. But you shall make provision for them a provision in a fair manner- upon the rich according to his means and upon the poor according to his means, is a duty upon the good doers (haqqan `alaa al-muh’sineena).
[3:134] Those who spend in the ease and the hardship, and those who restrain the anger, and those who pardon of the people; and God loves the good doers (wal-lahu yuhibbu al-muh’sineena).
[3:148] So God gave them a reward of the world and a better reward of the Hereafter; and God loves the good doers (wal-lahu yuhibbu al-muh’sineena).
[4:125] And who has better religion than one who has submitted himself to God, and he is a good-doer (wa-huwa muh’sinun), and has followed the religion of Abraham, monotheism? And God has chosen Abraham as a friend.
[5:13] As for their breaking of their covenant, we have cursed them and have made their hearts hard; they take the words out of their contexts and they have forgot a part of what they have been reminded of it. And you will not cease to discover of treachery from them, except a few of them. So you shall forgive and overlook of them; indeed, God loves the good doers (inna allaha yuhibbu al-muh’sineena).
[5:85] So God has rewarded them for what they have said, gardens flowing the rivers of their underneath, will be abiding therein forever. That is reward of the good doers (wa-dhaalika jazaau al-muh’sineena).
[5:93] It has not been any sin upon those who believed and have done the righteous deeds in what they ate when they have feared (God) and have believed and have done the righteous deeds, then they have feared and have believed; then they have feared (God) and have done good, and God loves the good doers (wa-allaha yuhibbu al-muh’sineena).
[6:84] And we bestowed to him (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob, each we guided; and Noah we guided from before; and of his progeny, David, and Solomon, and Job, and Joseph, and Moses, and Aaron. And thus, we reward the good doers (wa-ka’dhaalika najzee al-muh’sineena).
[7:56] And you are not to cause corruption in the earth after its reformation; and you shall call on Him out of fear and hope. Indeed, God’s mercy is near for the good doers (inna rahmata allahi qareebun mina al-muhsineena).
[7:161] And when it had been said: “You shall enter this town and shall eat from wherever you have wished; and shall say: “Repentance” and shall enter the gate prostrating. We will forgive your sins for you, and we will increase of the good doers (wa-sa’nazeedu al-muh’sineena).”
[9:91] It has not been any blame on the weak, nor on the sick, nor on those who do not find anything to spend, if they have been sincere to God and His messenger, nor any way on the good doers (maa `alaa al-muh’sineena min sabeelin); and God is Forgiving, Merciful.
[9:120] It has not been for people of al-Medina and whoever around them of the Arabs that they stay behind of God’s messenger, or they prefer to their lives than his life. That is because thirst does not afflict them, nor fatigue, nor hunger in God’s path, nor do they make any step that angers the disbelievers, nor do they inflict on enemy any infliction; except has been recorded in it a deed as righteous for them. Indeed, God does not let go waste reward of the good doers (inna allaha laa-yudee`u ajra al-muh’sineena).
[11:115] And you shall be patient, as indeed, God does not let go waste reward of the good doers (fa-inna allaha laa-yudee`u ajra al-muh’sineena).
[12:22] And when he (Joseph) reached his maturity, we have given him wisdom and knowledge. And thus that we reward the good doers (wa-ka’dhaalika najzee al-muh’sineena).
[12:36] And he entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said: “Indeed, I see myself pressing wine,” and the other said: “Indeed, I see myself I was carrying bread on my head, the birds eating from it.” “Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you of the good doers (nabbi`naa bi-taweelihi innaa naraaka mina al-muh’sineena).”
[12:56] And thus that we established for Joseph in the earth to settle therein wherever he wills. We bestow with our mercy upon whomever we will, and we do not let go waste reward of the good doers (wa-laa-nudee`u ajra al-muh’sineena).
[12:78] They (Joseph’s step brothers) said: “O you honorable; indeed, he has an elderly father, so you shall take one of us in his place. Indeed, we see you are of the good doers (innaa naraaka mina al-muh’sineena).”
[12:90] They said: “Are you indeed, surely you, Joseph?” He said: “I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Indeed, God has been gracious upon us. Indeed, he whoever may fear God and may be patient, then God do not let go waste reward of the good doers (fa-inna allaha laa-yudee`u ajra al-muh’sineena).”
[16:128] Indeed, God is with those who have feared and those who – they are good doers (wa-alladheena hum muh’sineena).
[22:37] Neither their meat nor their blood reaches God, but reaches Him is the righteousness from you. Thus that He has subjected them for you that you may glorify God through which He has guided you and shall give good news to the good doers (litukabbiruu allaha `alaa maa hadaakum wa-basharee al-muh’sineena).
[28:14] And when he (Moses) has reached his strength and has become mature, we bestowed upon him wisdom and knowledge. And thus that we reward the good doers (wa-ka’dhaalika najzee al-muh’sineena).
[29:69] And those who have strived in us, surely, we will guide them in our paths. Indeed, God is surely with the good doers (inna allaha la’ma`a al-muh’sineena).
[31:3] A guidance and a mercy for the good doers (hudan wa-rahmatan lil’muh’sineena).
those who have strived in us, surely, we will guide them in our paths.
[31:22] And whoever submits himself to God, while he is a good doer (wa-man yus’lim wajhahu ilaa allahi wa-huwa muhsinun), then certainly, he has grasped with the strongest handle, and to God is the end of the matters.
[33:29] “But if you (wives of prophet) have been to desire God and His messenger, and the abode of the Hereafter, then indeed, God has prepared for the good doers among you a great reward (fa-inna allaha a’adda lil’muh’sineena minkunna ajran azeeman).”
[37:80] Indeed, thus that we reward the good doers (innaa ka’dhaalika najzee al-muh’sineena).
[37:105] “Certainly, you (Abraham) have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, thus that we reward the good doers (innaa ka’dhaalika najzee al-muh’sineena).
[37:110] Thus that we reward the good doers (ka’dhaalika najzee al-muh’sineena).
[37:113] And we blessed on him (Abraham) and on Isaac. And of their progeny, are good doers, and are a clear wicked to himself (wa-min dhurriyyatihimmaa muh’sinun wa-zaalimun linassihi mubeenun).
[37:121] Indeed, thus that we reward the good doers (innaa ka’dhaalika najzee al-muh’sineena).
[37:131] Indeed, thus that we reward the good doers (innaa ka’dhaalika najzee al-muh’sineena).
[39:34] For them what they wish with their Lord. That is reward for the good doers (dhaalika jazaau lil’muh’sineena).
[39:58] Or it (soul) would say, when it sees the punishment, “If that for me another chance, I could be among the good doers (lam anna lee karratan fa-akuuna mina al-muh’sineena) .”
[46:12] And of its before Moses’ scripture was a guide and a mercy. And this is a scripture confirming in an Arabic tongue that it can warn those who have done wrong, and can give good news for the good doers (li’yundhia alladheena zalamuu wa-bushra lil’muh’sineena).
[51:16] Taking what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they have been good doers before that (innahum kaanuu qabla dhaalika muhsineena).
[77:44] Indeed, thus that we reward the good doers (innaa ka’dhaalika najzee al-muh’sineena).
Summary
- The followers of Moses were told to enter the town and to eat from wherever they wished but with repentance that God may forgive them for their sins and may increase reward for the good doers.
- Whoever has submitted to God and he is a good doer has his reward with his Lord, and there is no fear upon them, nor will they grieve.
- God wants to spend in His path being an opportunity and to do good as He loves the good doers.
- When the women are divorced shall make a provision for them in a fair manner according to his means is a duty upon the good doers.
- The good doers are those who spend in ease and hardship, restrain anger, and pardon people.
- Those who asked God for His forgiveness for their sins, He will reward them in the world and a better reward in the Hereafter as He loves the good doers.
- Who is more better being a good-doer than the one who has submitted to God and has followed the religion of Abraham.
- The people of Israel who broke their covenant, God has cursed them and have made their hearts hard while they take the words out of their contexts and they have forgot a part of what they have been reminded of it.
- Those who said, “Why should we not believe in God and truth has come to us in this”, God will reward them being good doers.
- There is no sin upon those who believed and have done the righteous deeds in what they ate when they have feared and have believed and have done the righteous deeds, being good doers.
- To Abraham God bestowed Isaac and Jacob, who He guided, also Noah, and of his progeny – David, and Solomon, and Job, and Joseph, and Moses, and Aaron being good doers.
- Those who call on God out of fear and hope, His mercy is near to them being the good doers.
- The followers of Moses who entered the city saying “Repentance” God forgave them their sins and increased their reward being the good doers.
- Those who did not participate in fighting but had been sincere to God and His messenger, they were not out of the good doers as God is forgiving and merciful to them.
- It has not been for the people of al-Medina and whoever around them of the Arabs that they stay behind of God’s messenger, or they prefer to their lives than his life to be the good doers.
- Whoever may fear God and may be patient, God do not let go waste reward of the good doers.
- God established Joseph in Egypt with family, his story teaches us how He reward the good doer.
- God is with those who have feared Him, thus they are those who are the good doers.
- An animal sacrifice is a ritual for the pilgrims but neither meat nor blood reaches Him except the righteousness from them, while He He has guided the good doers through it to glorify Him.
- When Moses reached his strength and became mature, had been bestowed upon him wisdom and knowledge, thus God reward the good doers.
- Those who have strived in the cause of God, He guides them in His path staying with them.
- Quran is a guidance and a mercy for the good doers while God guides them to His path with it.
- Whoever has submitted to God, while he is a good doer has grasped with the trustworthy handle.
- The wives of the prophet who had been to desire God and His messenger, and the abode of the Hereafter, He has prepared for them a great reward as the good doers.
- God’s prophets are good doers, which has been confirmed by mentioning Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Aaron, Elias and Lot who have been rewarded as the good doers.
- The believers while in Paradise, have what they wish with their Lord as reward for the good doers.
- The disbelievers when sees punishment, wish to have another chance to be of the good doers.
- Moses’ scripture was a guide and a mercy for the people while Quran being a scripture confirming in Arabic language warns those who have done wrong but gives good news for the good doers.
This review may help understand how we can be good doers to be rewarded staying with God. Better deed is indeed to follow God’s words and to invite to His path with wisdom and good instruction, while Quran being a scripture confirming in Arabic language warns those who have done wrong but gives good news for the good doers. Thus, when the disbelievers see the punishment will expect to have another chance, even it will not be given while the believers in Paradise will have what they wish with their Lord as reward for the good doers being guided by Him through His scripture and His given rites.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (3/13/2020).