The Difference Between Righteousness and Piety

The questioner : What is righteousness? May Allah keep you safe.

The Shaykh : General and specific righteousness. Ahmad. General righteousness is good character with whom? With Allah and with the servants of Allah. Specific righteousness is worshipping Allah.

The questioner : That is enough. Dutifulness to parents.

The Shaykh : Dutifulness to parents is specific, and in reality it falls under good character, but it was mentioned specifically because of its importance.

The questioner : It is said: Do righteousness and piety mean the same thing?

The Shaykh : It is said that righteousness and piety are mentioned in the Qur'an in the phrase "cooperating in righteousness and piety."

The questioner : May Allah reward us. When both are mentioned together, each has its own meaning.

The Shaykh : When both are mentioned together, each has its own meaning.

The questioner : And when one of them is separated, it encompasses the other.

The Shaykh : And when one of them is mentioned alone, it includes the other. So, when both are mentioned together, what is meant by righteousness? Righteousness means doing good, and piety means avoiding evil. This is when both are mentioned together.