Throughout the Holy Qur’an, you will see the phrase, “believe and do good.” For example, in Surah (chapter) 2, Ayat (verse) 82, it says, “And those who believe and do good deeds, these are the owners of the Garden; therein they abide.”
In Proverbs, chapter 23, verse 7, it reminds us how we should think. Thinking good thoughts is a good deed because “As a man thinketh, so is he … .” If we think more positively about ourselves as children of Allah (God), we will not only feed ourselves better, but we will treat ourselves better.
People who own pets make an effort to walk them every day, rain or shine. This activity benefits both the pet and the owner because it is good for the heart and uplifts their moods. Unfortunately, some of us may show more care for pets or our cars than we do for ourselves. We must also believe and do good for ourselves.
In a recent Final Call article published in Vol. 45 No. 8, titled “Just a Few Good Men,” the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan talked about the three states of goodness. When we apply these stages to fitness and health, we gain a powerful plan for understanding not just what we do for our bodies, but why we do it.
Stage one: Doing good for a visible reward
The first, and lowest, stage of goodness is when we exercise to look better. We are able to see the visible benefits, such as a flatter stomach or more defined muscles. There is nothing wrong with this—it’s good. Who doesn’t want to look and feel good? Exercising for visible results is a nice starting point.
We may work out for an upcoming event, a vacation, or because the doctor told us we had to. But the challenge is that when the visible reward fades—or comes too slowly—so does the consistency. Some people never grow beyond this level because they stop when the results are not as visible. Instead, we should see it as a duty we owe ourselves to take care of the body Allah (God) gave us.
Stage two: Doing good without immediate benefit
The second stage of goodness is higher. This is when you do good even when there is no obvious or immediate payoff. In fitness, this looks like taking a walk even though the scale doesn’t move. It’s stretching, lifting weights, or choosing better foods when no one is watching.
This is where character and good habits begin to form. You may not see instant changes, but internally, something is shifting. Blood pressure improves. Stress decreases. Discipline grows. This is the stage where exercise becomes less about appearance and more about obedience to what you know is right.
In “How To Eat To Live,” Book One on page 44, The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad writes, “… live right, think right, eat right and do right. You will not have to die to go to heaven to be like angels; you will be like them while you live.”
Sometimes our good actions are in hopes of getting likes on social media, praise, or attention. But when you move your body simply because it needs to be moved and it is the best thing to do for your body, you are training not just your muscles, but your mind and spirit as well.
Stage three: Doing good because it is your nature
The highest stage of goodness is when doing good requires no effort because it has become a part of your nature, like stretching in the morning. This is fitness at its highest level. You don’t ask, “Should I move today?” You move because that’s who you are.
A soldier is always training or being active. You don’t have to think about choosing chips over cherries; you will choose the healthier food naturally. Exercise is no longer an unwelcome task, but an expression of gratitude.
Doing good for the sake of good is the level we want to be at daily. Allah (God) hates ingratitude. If you are given a beautiful machine that can heal on its own, that is an object worth taking care of, right?
Fitness is not just about looking good but also about being good to our bodies. We should make a weekly plan to exercise our bodies, or else we can become a part of a conspiracy to destroy ourselves and not know it.
May Allah (God) bless us all with peace, health, wealth, love, and happiness.
Dr. Audrey Muhammad is an educator, aerobics instructor, and author of “Get Fit to Live: Be Your Best You!” Contact her at [email protected] and for more information, visit www.virtuetodaymag.com. Please consult a physician before beginning any new exercise or dietary program.