Islam commands solidarity and cooperation among people

In the Qur'an Allah has issued this command:

... help each other to goodness and Allahliness. Do not help each other to wrongdoing and enmity. Have fear of Allah. Allah is severe in retribution. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 2)

As that verse makes clear, the faithful struggle only for what is good. They consider the words of Allah in  the Qur'an: "Whatever good you do, Allah knows it." (Surat an- Nisa: 127) They never forget that they will be recompensed for all they do in the Sight of our Lord, but Allah reveals that pleasing mutual aid needs to be in a framework of "good and Allahliness." The meaning of goodness is also explained in the Qur'an :

It is not devoutness to turn your faces to the East or to the West. Rather, those with true devoutness are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book and the Prophets, and who, despite their love for it, give away their wealth to their relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to travelers and beggars, and to set slaves free, and who perform prayer and pay charity tax; those who honor their contracts when they make them, and are steadfast in poverty and illness and in battle. Those are the people who act loyal. They are the people who guard against evil. (Surat al-Baqara: 177)

True goodness, therefore, is rather different from the way society in general perceives it. Those who do not live by the morality of the Qur'an view good deeds as favors they confer, whenever they happen to feel like it. Usually they restrict such good deeds to giving money to a beggar, or giving up their seat on the bus to an elderly person.

Yet as we have seen from the above verse, in the Qur'an Allah describes goodness as a concept encompassing the whole of a believer's life, as an obligation that must be fulfilled throughout the course of his life, not only when he feels like it or happens to remember it. As a servant, any Muslim possesses true sincerity and helps the poor and needy, even if he himself is in need, even giving up the things he loves (Surat al-Insan: 8). In Surat adh-Dhariyat: 19, which reads, "And beggars and the destitute received a due share of their wealth," Allah has revealed that rendering assistance, helping others and doing good are all incumbent upon Muslims. They give help unconditionally, and believers are ready to make any sacrifice to encourage others towards what is good. They expect nothing in return, apart from winning the pleasure of Allah. In the Qur'an, Allah describes such behavior by believers:

Not so! All who submit themselves completely to Allah and who do good will find their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (Surat al-Baqara: 112)   Allah does not wrong anyone by so much as the smallest speck. And if there is a good deed, Allah will multiply it and pay out an immense reward direct from Him. (Surat an-Nisa: 40)

We feed you only out of desire for the Face of Allah. We do not want any repayment from you nor any thanks. Truly We fear from our Lord a glowering, calamitous Day. (Surat al-Insan: 9-10)

Muslims know that Allah is the Lord of infinite justice, and never forget that their good behavior will be suitably rewarded in the hereafter. Nor do they forget that life in this world is only temporary, and that their true home lies in the sight of Allah. In the Qur'an, He warns people of their inevitable end, and calls on them all to behave in a manner pleasing to Him:

We did not create the heavens and earth and everything between them, except with truth. The Hour is certainly coming, so turn away graciously. (Surat al-Hijr: 85)

Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Be good to your parents and relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to neighbors who are related to you and neighbors who are not related to you, and to companions and travelers and your slaves. Allah does not love anyone vain or boastful. (Surat an-Nisa: 36)

The recompense for those who exhibit pleasing behavior is of great good news for all of mankind, and is revealed in these verses:

But as for those who believe and do right actions, We will not let the wage of good-doers go to waste. (Surat al-Kahf: 30)

When those who have done their duty are asked, "What has your Lord sent down?" their reply is, "Good!" There is good in this world for those who do good, and the abode of the hereafter is even better. How wonderful is the abode of those who guard against evil: Gardens of Eden which they enter, with rivers flowing under them, where they have whatever they desire. That is how Allah repays those who guard against evil. (Surat an-Nahl: 30-31)