Does minor shirk invalidate a person's previous deeds?
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The fifth question of Fatwa No. ( 21677 )
As far as I know, some shirk (associating partners with Allah) is major (which takes one out of the religion after persistence in it), and some is minor (such as riya' [showing off in worship], which nullifies the deed).Does minor shirk nullify all of the servant's previous deeds?Including those deeds that were not mixed with minor shirk, such as riya' [showing off in worship], or only those deeds that were mixed with minor shirk? I ask your Eminence to explain—meaning to clarify—the meaning of the hadith about the groups who will come on the Day of Resurrection with deeds like mountains, and then Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will make them scattered dust, and the reason for the nullification of their deeds. I also ask your Eminence for advice on how to avoid the whispers of Satan the accursed, who usually spoils some of my worship for me, such as appearing to me during prayer and saying, "Improve your deed, for so-and-so, the learned scholar, is watching you," and so on and so on... even though my intention at the beginning was pure for the face of Allah the Exalted. So what do you advise us to do, may Allah have mercy on you?
A5: Riya' invalidates the deed that it mixed with and persisted with, provided the person did not repent
from it. It does not invalidate deeds that were not mixed with it. Rather, it is major shirk that invalidates all deeds. Those who come with righteous deeds like mountains, and then they vanish and they do not benefit from them, are those who commit injustices against the servants of Allah. So retribution is taken from their deeds for the oppressed, until nothing remains of them. Then the evil deeds of the oppressed are taken and heaped upon them, and then they are thrown into the Fire; as came in the hadith. As for the disbeliever and the one who associates partners with Allah who dies upon disbelief, they have no accepted deeds at all; because deeds are not valid with disbelief and shirk. And you should leave off the whispers and not pay attention to them, and seek refuge in Allah from Satan; because if you do that, they will not harm you—may Allah will it—and success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
As far as I know, some shirk (associating partners with Allah) is major (which takes one out of the religion after persistence in it), and some is minor (such as riya' [showing off in worship], which nullifies the deed).Does minor shirk nullify all of the servant's previous deeds?Including those deeds that were not mixed with minor shirk, such as riya' [showing off in worship], or only those deeds that were mixed with minor shirk? I ask your Eminence to explain—meaning to clarify—the meaning of the hadith about the groups who will come on the Day of Resurrection with deeds like mountains, and then Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will make them scattered dust, and the reason for the nullification of their deeds. I also ask your Eminence for advice on how to avoid the whispers of Satan the accursed, who usually spoils some of my worship for me, such as appearing to me during prayer and saying, "Improve your deed, for so-and-so, the learned scholar, is watching you," and so on and so on... even though my intention at the beginning was pure for the face of Allah the Exalted. So what do you advise us to do, may Allah have mercy on you?
A5: Riya' invalidates the deed that it mixed with and persisted with, provided the person did not repent
from it. It does not invalidate deeds that were not mixed with it. Rather, it is major shirk that invalidates all deeds. Those who come with righteous deeds like mountains, and then they vanish and they do not benefit from them, are those who commit injustices against the servants of Allah. So retribution is taken from their deeds for the oppressed, until nothing remains of them. Then the evil deeds of the oppressed are taken and heaped upon them, and then they are thrown into the Fire; as came in the hadith. As for the disbeliever and the one who associates partners with Allah who dies upon disbelief, they have no accepted deeds at all; because deeds are not valid with disbelief and shirk. And you should leave off the whispers and not pay attention to them, and seek refuge in Allah from Satan; because if you do that, they will not harm you—may Allah will it—and success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.