The Noble Quran ascribes four specific qualities to the pioneers of righteous deeds.

﴿‌أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ (٥٥) نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ بَلْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ (٥٦) إِنَّ الَّذِينَ هُمْ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ رَبِّهِمْ مُشْفِقُونَ (٥٧) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ (٥٨) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِرَبِّهِمْ لَا يُشْرِكُونَ (٥٩) وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوْا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ (٦٠) أُولَئِكَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ (٦١) ﴾ [المؤمنون: 60-61]

Do they think that by consistently providing them with wealth and children,We are accelerating the (real) good things to them? The fact, however, is that they do not understand (the reality). (Contrarily) those who are anxious out of awe of their Lord,and those who believe in the verses of their Lord and those who do not associate any partner to their Lord,and those who give whatever they give, with their hearts full of fear that to their Lord they are to return - those people are accelerating towards the (real) good things, and they are the foremost to attain them.
Surah Muminun (23): 55-61

These verses highlight four fundamental qualities of those who are the pioneers in virtuous actions. The disbelievers of Makkah, and still, a considerable number of individuals, harbor similar thoughts. They argue that our abundant wealth, offspring, and worldly comforts are indicative of Allah's favor upon us. Their rationale suggests that such bounties wouldn't be bestowed if He were not pleased with us. This verse asserts that comprehending Allah's pleasure or displeasure cannot be gauged solely by worldly blessings. These blessings extend to those whom He loves as well as those He does not. Conversely, His religious blessings are reserved exclusively for His beloved devotees. Consequently, the true gauge of His affection is religion, not material prosperity.

This passage also outlines key attributes of Allah's cherished servants, enumerated below with explanations:

1.They revere their Lord. Fueled by this reverence, they abstain from prohibited actions while dutifully adhering to His commands. Even after performing commendable deeds, their apprehension lingers—will my demise be honorable? Regret may arise for not fulfilling Allah's rights diligently.

2. They uphold faith in Allah's revelations. They recite and contemplate upon the Quranic verses, striving to grasp their meanings. Furthermore, they ponder the signs of Allah present in the world, such as fetal development, rain's descent, subterranean water reservoirs, etc. Through contemplation, they fathom the Creator and seek insight into His essence and omnipotence.

3. They shun associating partners with Allah. Two categories of Shirk exist: blatant (Shirk Jaliy) and concealed (Shirk Khafiy). Engaging in major Shirk involves worshiping entities other than Allah. Believers abhor involvement in these egregious transgressions. The subtler Shirk Khafiy involves acts like showing off during Salah or seeking recognition through charitable contributions. Allah's cherished servants diligently avoid even this minor form of shirk, recognizing its pernicious effect on virtuous deeds. Guarding against Shirk Khafiy is arduous but imperative.

4. They engage in righteous deeds—prayer, fasting, almsgiving—while maintaining a constant focus on the afterlife. Their dedication to virtuous endeavors is wholehearted, void of arrogance. They harbor concerns over Allah's acceptance of their deeds and whether rewards will be granted in the hereafter. These four qualities—reverential fear of Allah, unwavering belief in His verses, abstaining from all forms of polytheism, and humility even in the wake of virtuous actions—are expounded upon in this discourse. Allah Almighty highlights that individuals who embody these qualities remain actively engaged in benevolent deeds.
May Allah grant us tawfiq to possess these four qualities – Ameen.