The Ruling on One Who Seeks the World with His Deeds

Question:
Allah has informed you: if one goes to the mosque with the intention of lengthening his life or increasing his wealth, or if one recites the dhikr (remembrance of Allah) to be preserved in this world without intending the Hereafter, will he be punished in the Hereafter for his intention, or will his deed simply be preserved and he not be punished for it in the Hereafter? Yes.

Answer:
It is sufficient to say that he will have no reward for this deed in the Hereafter. He will have no reward in the Hereafter. A person’s intention to seek the world with his deed nullifies only the deed for which he intended the world; it does not nullify his other deeds. What nullifies all deeds is shirk (associating partners with Allah), and may Allah protect us from shirk and kufr (disbelief); this nullifies all deeds. As for riya' (showing off) and a person’s intention to seek the world with his deed—meaning hidden shirk in its two types—this nullifies only the deed that was mixed with it, and does not nullify the other deeds that were sincere for Allah the Exalted and Majestic.