There are 129 instances, which are closely related in the verb (2), active participle related to person (65) and active participle related to deeds (62) forms as shown in the table below: These instances are being reviewed to have clear understanding from the Quran in different contexts about how we can be righteous or what we need to practice to become righteous to God to deserve reward with Him while perfect belief and practice can only help us to achieve this goal according to Quran.
Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.Instances of salaha
There are 2 instances of salaha in the verb form meaning “to become righteous” in 2 verses across 2 suras are described below:
[13:23] Gardens of Eden, they will enter it and whoever became righteous (yadhkhuluunahaa wa-man salaha) from their fathers and their spouses and their children, and the angels will enter upon them from every gate.
[40:8] “Our (angels) Lord, and admit them to Gardens of Eden which You promised them and whoever became righteous ( wa-man salaha) from their fathers, their spouses, and their children. Indeed, You are the Almighty, the Wise.”
Instances of saalih
There are 65 instances of saalih and its derived forms meaning “a righteous” i.e., who does a righteous deed” in the active participle form found in 64 verses across 43 suras are described below:
[2:62] Surely, those who believed, and those who turned to Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians; whoever believed in God and the Last Day, and has done as righteous (man aamana bil-lahi wal-yawmi al-aakhiri wa-amila saalihan), then for them there is their reward with their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor will they grieve.
[2:130] And who turns away from a religion of Abraham except one who has fooled himself? Indeed, we have chosen him in the world, and indeed, he is in the Hereafter will surely be with the righteous (wa-innahu feel al-aakhirati la’mina al-saaliheena).
[3:39] Then the angels called him (Zachariah) when he is standing to pray in the prayer house that God gives you good news of John, is confirming with a word of God, and an honorable and honest, and a prophet from the righteous (anna allaha yubashiruka bi-yahyaa musaddiqan bi-kalimatin mina allahi wa-sayyidan wa-hasuuran wa-nabiyyan mina al-saaliheena).
[3:46] “And he (Jesus) will speak to the people from the cradle, and in old age, and he will be with the righteous (wa-mina al-saaliheena).”
[3:114] They (Jews and Christians, people of the scripture) believe in God and the Last Day, and they enjoin with the fair manner and forbid from the evil, and they hasten in the good deeds; and those are of the righteous (ulaa-ika mina al-saaliheena).
[4:69] And whoever obeys God and the messenger are with those whom God has favored of the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the righteous (alladheena an`ma allahu `alayhim mina al-nabiyeena wal-siddeeqeena wal-shuhadaa-i wal-saaliheena), and those are an excellent companion!
[5:69] “Surely, those who believed, and those who turned to Jews, and the Sabians, and the Christians; whoever believed in God and the Last Day and has done as righteous (man aamana bil-lahi wal-yawmi al-aakhiri wa-amila saalihan), then there is no fear for them nor will they grieve.”
[5:84] “And what is for us, we will not believe in God and what has come to us of the truth? While we wish that our Lord will admit us with the righteous people (wa-natma`u an yud’khilanaa rabbunaa ma`a al-qawmi al-saaliheena).”
[6:85] And Zachariah, and John, and Jesus, and Elias; all are among the righteous (kullun mina al-saaliheena).
[7:168] And we divided them into nations in the earth. Of them there are the righteous, and of them there are other than that (minhumu al-saalihuuna wa-minhum duuna dhaalika). And we tested them with the good and the evil, that they may return.
[7:189] He is the One who created you from a single soul, and made from it its mate that he may live with her. Then when he covers her, she bears a light load that continues with it. Then when it grew heavy, they called on God, their Lord: “If You give us a righteous (child), surely, we will be with the thankful ones (la-in aataytanaa saalihan la’nakuunannaa mina al-shaakireena).”
[7:190] Then when He gives them a righteous child (falammaa aataahumaa saalihan), they made partners with Him in what He gives them, while God exalted above what they associate.
[7:196] “Indeed, my Protector is God who sent down the scripture; and He protects the righteous (wa-huwa yatawalla al-saaliheena).”
[9:75] And among them (who disbelieved after becoming submitters) who made a pledge to God: “If He gives us from His bounty, surely, we will give charity (la’nassaddaqanna) and surely, we will be with the righteous (wa-la’nakuunanna mina al-saaliheena).”
[9:102] And others who have acknowledged their sins, they have mixed a deed of righteous and other evil (khalatu `amalan saalihan wa-aakhara sayyi-an). It has been that God may turn to them. Indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
[9:120] It had not been for the people of the city and whoever around them of the Arabs that they should stay behind after God’s messenger, nor should they prefer their lives over his life. That is because neither comes to them thirst, nor fatigue, nor hunger in God’s path, or they do not step any step that angers the disbelievers, nor do they inflict an infliction over any enemy except has been recorded for them in it as a deed of righteous (illaa kutiba lahum bihi `amalun saalihun). Indeed, God does not let go waste the reward of the good doers.
[11:46] He said: “O Noah, indeed, he is not of your family; indeed, he has a deed other than a righteous (innahu `amalun ghayru saalihin), so you shall not ask Me what you have no knowledge of it. Indeed, I admonish you lest you would be with the ignorant.”
[12:9] “Kill Joseph or cast him to a land that your father’s favor will be free for you, and you will be after that the righteous people (wa-takuunuu min ba`dihi qawman saaliheena).”
[12:101] “My Lord, certainly you have given me the dominion and have taught me of interpreting the statements; Initiator of the heavens and the earth, You are my Protector in the world and the Hereafter. You cause me to die as a Submitter and include me with the righteous.” (tawaffanee mus’liman wa-alhiqnee bil-saaliheena).”
[16:97] Whoever has done deed as righteous (man `amala saalihan), from a male or a female, and is a believer, then surely, we will give him a good life and surely, we will pay them their reward with best of what they used to do.
[16:122] And we gave him good in the world, and indeed, he in the Hereafter, will surely be with the righteous (wa-innahu fee al-aakhirati lamina al-saaliheena).
[17:25] Your Lord is Knower of what is in your souls. If you are righteous (in takuunuu saaliheena), then indeed, He has been Forgiving for those who frequently turn (to Him).
[18:82] “And as for the wall is it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and underneath it there had been a treasure for them, and their father had been a righteous (wa-kaana tahtahu kanzun la’humaa wa-kaana abuuhumaa saalihan). So your Lord intended that they reach their maturity and bring forth their treasure as a mercy from your Lord. And I have not done it from my accord. That is interpretation of what you do not have patience on it.”
[18:88] “And as for whoever has believed and has done as righteous (wa-ammaa man aamana wa-`amila saalihan), then for him there is a best reward, and we will speak to him from our ease word.”
[18:110] Say: “I (Muhammad) am only a human being like yourselves; it is inspired to me that your god is One god. So whoever has been hoping for meeting his Lord, then he should do deed as righteous (fal-ya`mal `amalan saalihan) and he does not associate anyone in worship of his Lord (wa-laa-yush’rik bi-`ibaadati rabbihi ahadan).”
[19:60] Except for whoever repented and believed and has done deed of a righteous (illaa man taaba wa-aamana wa-`amila `amalan saalihan); then those will enter the Garden ( Paradise), and they will not be wronged in anything.
[20:82] And indeed, I am surely Forgiving for whoever has repented and has done as righteous (wa-innee la’ghaffaarun liman taaba wa-`aamana wa-`amila saalihan), then he has stayed guided.
[21:72] And we have given to him (Abraham) Isaac (son) and also Jacob (grandson), and each we made righteous (wa-kullan ja`alnaa saaliheena).
[21:75] And we admitted him (Abraham) into our mercy. Indeed, he has been with the righteous (innahu mina al-saaliheena).
[21:86] And we admitted them (Ismael, Idris and Dhul Kifl) into our mercy. Indeed, they have been with the righteous (innahum mina al-saaliheena).
[21:105] And we have written in the Psalms of there after the reminder that the earth – My servants of the righteous will inherit it (min ba`di al-dhikri anna al-arda yarithuhaa `ibaadiya al-saalihuuna).”
[23:51] “O messengers, you shall eat from the good, and shall do as righteous (kuluu mina al-tayibaati wa-i`maluu saalihan). Indeed, I am Knower of what you do.”
[23:100] “That I can do as righteous in what I have left behind (la`allee a`malu saalihan feemaa taraktu).” No, indeed, it is a word, he is being its speaker, while there is a barrier of their ahead till a day they are resurrected.
[24:32] And you shall marry who are single among you, and the righteous among your male and female servants (wal-saliheena min `ibaadikum wa-imaa`ikum). If they are poor, then God will enrich them from His bounty. And God is Bounteous, Knower.
[25:70] Except whoever repented and believed and has done deed of a righteous (illaa man taaba wa-`aamana wa-`amila `amalan saalihan), are those God will replace their evil deeds with their good ones, and God is Forgiving, Merciful.
[25:71] And whoever repented and has done as righteous (wa-man taaba wa-`amila saalihan), then indeed, he turns to God as repentance.
[26:83] “My Lord, grant to me wisdom and include me with the righteous (rabbi hab lee hukman wa-alhiq’nee bil-saaliheena).”
[27:19] So, he (Solomon) smiled a laugh at her word, and said: “My Lord, grant me that I can appreciate Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I can do as righteous that pleases You (wa-an a`mala saalihan tardaahu), and admit me by Your mercy with Your righteous servants (wa-ad’khil’nee bi-rahmatika fee `ibaadika al-saaliheena).”
[28:27] He said: “Indeed, I wish you that marry you one of these two of my daughters on that you serve me for eight pilgrimage years; while if you complete ten, is from your part. And I do not wish that make it difficult for you. You will find me, if God wills of the righteous (sa’tajidunee in shaa-a allahu mina al-saaliheena).”
[28:67] Then as for whoever has repented and has believed, and has done as righteous (fa-ammaa man taaba wa-`aamana wa-`amila saalihan); so it has been that he will be with the successful ones.
[28:80] And those who have been given the knowledge said: “Woe to you! God’s reward is better for whoever believed and has done as righteous (waylakum thawaabu allahi khayrun liman `aamana wa-`amila saalihan). And it is not granted except the steadfast.”
[29:9] And those who believed and has done the righteous deeds, certainly, we will surely admit them with the righteous (la’nud’khilannahum fee al-saaliheena).
[29:27] And we granted him (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob, and we made within his progeny the prophethood and the scripture. And we gave him his reward in the world, and indeed, in the Hereafter he is surely with the righteous (wa-innahu fee al-aakhirati la’mina al-saaliheena).
[30:44] And whoever disbelieved, then his disbelief is on him; and whoever has done as righteous (wa-man `amila saalihan), then it is for themselves, they are preparing.
[32:12] And if you could see the criminals when their heads are downs before their Lord: “Our Lord, we have seen and we have heard, so return us and we will do as righteous (fa-ir’ji`naan a`mal saalihan). Indeed, we are the ascertained ones.”
[33:31] And whoever among you (prophet’s wives) is obedient to God and His messenger and does as righteous (wa-ta`mal saalihan), we will give double her reward, and we have prepared for her a generous provision.
[34:11] That you shall make armor coats and shall measure precisely in the links, and shall do as righteous (wa-i`maluu saalihan). Indeed, I am Seer of what you do.
[34:37] And it is not with your wealth nor your children that can bring you closer to us in position, except who believed and has done as righteous (wa-`amila saalihan), then those for them there is 2-fold reward for what they had done, and they will be in the secure high dwellings.
[35:10] Whoever may have desire for the honor but to God belongs all the honor. To Him ascends the good words and the deed of the righteous raises it (al`amilu al-saalihu yarfa`uhu). And those who would plot the evil, for them there is a severe punishment, and plotting of those, which will perish.
[35:37] And they will scream therein, “Our Lord, bring us out, we will do as righteous (na`mal saalihan) other than that what we used to do.” Did not we give you a life-long enough that he, who would take heed therein, could take heed? And the warner came to you. So taste as there is no helper for the wrongdoers.
[37:100] “My Lord, grant for me of the righteous (rabbi hab lee mina al-saaliheena).”
[37:112] And we gave him good news of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous (wa-basharnaahu bi-is’haaqa nabiyyan mina al-saaliheena).
[40:40] “Whoever has done evil, then he will not be recompensed except like of it, and whoever has done as righteous from a male or a female (wa-man `amila saalihan min dhakarin aw unthaa), and he is a believer, then those will enter the Garden, they will be given provision in it without limit.”
[41:33] And who is better in utterance than whoever has invited to God, and has done as righteous (wa-`amila saalihan), and said: “Indeed, I am one of the submitters.”
[41:46] Whoever has done as righteous (wa-man `amila saalihan), so it is for his soul and whoever has done evil, so it is against it, while there is no unjust of your Lord for the servants.
[45:15] Whoever has done as righteous (wa-man `amila saalihan), so it is for his soul and whoever has done evil, so it is against it. Then to your Lord you will be returned.
[46:15] And we enjoined the human kindness with his parents. His mother carried him in hardship, gave birth to him in hardship, and his bearing and his weaning is until thirty months. When he reached his maturity and reached forty years, he said: ” My Lord, grant me that I can appreciate Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I can do as righteous that pleases You (wa-an a`mala saalihan tardaahu), and make righteous (wa-aslih) for me in my progeny. Indeed, I have turned to You, and indeed, I am with the submitters.”
[63:10] And you shall spend from what we have provided you of before that the death comes to one of you, then he says: “My Lord, why not You delayed me for a short term, so I would give to charity and would be with the righteous (wa-akun mina al-saaliheena)!”
[64:9] A day He will gather you is a Day of the Gathering. That will be a day of the mutual blaming. And whoever believes in God and does as righteous (wa-man yu’min bil-lahi wa-ya`mal saalihan), He will remove from him his evil deeds and will admit him into gardens, the rivers flow beneath them, abiding therein forever. That is the greatest success.
[65:11] A messenger (message) recites to you clear revelations of God that it may bring those who have believed and have done the righteous deeds out of the darkness into the light. And whoever believes in God and does as righteous (wa-man yu’min bil-lahi wa-ya`mal saalihan), He will admit him into gardens, the rivers flow underneath them, abiding therein forever. Certainly, God has granted for him a good provision.
[66:4] If the two of you (two of prophet’s wives) repent to God, then your hearts have listened. But if you (both) band together against him (prophet), then indeed, God is his Protector, and Gabriel and righteous of the believers (fa-inna allaha huwa mawlaahu wa-jib’reelu wa-saalihu al-mu’mineena) and the angels are also his helpers.
[66:10] God has presented an example for those who disbelieved – Noah’s wife and wife of Lot. They had been married to two of our righteous servants (kaanataa tahta `abdayni min `ibaadini saalihayni), while they betrayed them, so, they could not help themselves in anything from God, and it has been told: “Enter the Fire with those who enter.”
[68:50] So his Lord chose him (Jonnah), while He made him of the righteous (fa-ij’tabaahu rabbuhu fa-ja`alahu mina al-saaliheena) .
[72:11] “And that among us (jinns) are the righteous (wa-annaa minnaa al-saalihuuna), and among us other than that. We are on different paths.”
Summary
- Angels will pray to God to admit righteous to Gardens of Eden with their parents, spouses and children who did righteous as well.
- Whoever believed in God and the Last Day and did righteous will have their reward with their Lord.
- God wishes that His worshipers will follow the religion of Abraham to be with the righteous.
- He has also confirmed that whoever forsook a religion of Abraham has made him a fool.
- Jesus spoke to the people in the cradle and at old age, and he had been with the righteous.
- Those who obeyed God and the messenger are one and same community including prophets, truthful, martyrs and righteous confirm God’s revelation is the basis to be righteous at all times.
- God tested us with the good and the evil, that those who can return to Him are the righteous.
- God is our Protector and He sent down the scripture that He can protect the righteous among us.
- Those who acknowledged their sins, and repented and reformed, God is Forgiving for them.
- Whoever did righteous from a male or female will have a good life in the world while they will receive better reward in the Hereafter.
- Whoever did righteous and did not associate in the worshiping of God will receive reward from Him.
- Abraham was righteous while God made righteous from his progeny who receive reward from Him.
- Those who die as unrighteous wish to come back to do righteous while there is a barrier of their ahead until a day of the resurrection.
- Those who are single should marry from the righteous male or female even they are poor.
- The criminals when their heads are downs before their Lord wish to come back to do righteous.
- When the guilty are in Hell wish if God could bring them out, they would do the righteous deeds.
- Who is better in utterance than whoever invites to God and does righteous being submitters.
- Whoever does righteous has done for himself and whoever does evil has done for himself as well.
- Whoever reaches age forty should pray for him and his children to be righteous being submitters.
- Whoever did not spend from his provision when death comes wish to be sent back to be charitable.
- There is a Day of the Gathering, which will be a day of the mutual blaming as well but whoever believes in God and does as righteous, He will remove their sins and will admit them to Gardens.
- A messenger recites clear revelations from God to bring righteous out of the darkness into the light.
- Noah’s wife and wife of Lot enter Hell who could not help themselves being married to righteous.
- When Jonah called God from the darkness (inside the fish), He chose him and included him with the righteous.
- The Jinn, an invisible creature of God who follows different paths including the path of the righteous.
In conclusion, the review of instances of salaha in the verb form and saalih in the active participle confirms that if anyone wants to deserve reward with God being righteous is to believe in Him and the Last Day, and is follow the revelations from Him to be brought out of the darkness into the light.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (1/31/2020).