Ruling on seeking thanks from people for doing good
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Your Eminence! I understood from the apparent wording of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him): that whoever does good in order to seek thanks or supplication, his deed is not sincere for the sake of Allah.
So what is your guidance?
Yes, this is correct. A person who performs an act of worship that is to be for Allah alone, if he associates anyone with Allah in it, that invalidates the worship. So if someone prays in order for people to thank him for the prayer and praise him for it, there is no doubt that he intended something other than Allah with his deed. Then it is either major shirk or minor shirk, depending on what is in the heart.
As for if he prays for Allah and then people praise him for that prayer, there is nothing wrong with that. It may even be part of the immediate glad tidings of the believer. But it is obligatory for a person to devote to Allah what belongs to Allah, and not associate anyone with Him. People cannot benefit you from Allah in any way, and Allah makes you independent of all people. So why do you not draw near to Allah by what one draws near to Him by? You draw near to people with prayer, which is for Allah?The questioner: But the issue, O Shaykh, is his saying: (or supplication) For example: a person gives charity in order for that person to supplicate for him?The Shaykh: Even this is a deficiency in sincerity.The righteous said: [Al-Insan:9] And supplication is part of the reward,By the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (Whoever does you a kindness, then reward him. If you do not find with which to reward him, then supplicate for him) And there is no doubt that there is a difference between a person who gives for Allah Mighty and Majestic, seeking to draw near to Allah Mighty and Majestic,and a person who says: and giving it in order for him to supplicate for me.
A vast difference.
So what is your guidance?
Yes, this is correct. A person who performs an act of worship that is to be for Allah alone, if he associates anyone with Allah in it, that invalidates the worship. So if someone prays in order for people to thank him for the prayer and praise him for it, there is no doubt that he intended something other than Allah with his deed. Then it is either major shirk or minor shirk, depending on what is in the heart.
As for if he prays for Allah and then people praise him for that prayer, there is nothing wrong with that. It may even be part of the immediate glad tidings of the believer. But it is obligatory for a person to devote to Allah what belongs to Allah, and not associate anyone with Him. People cannot benefit you from Allah in any way, and Allah makes you independent of all people. So why do you not draw near to Allah by what one draws near to Him by? You draw near to people with prayer, which is for Allah?The questioner: But the issue, O Shaykh, is his saying: (or supplication) For example: a person gives charity in order for that person to supplicate for him?The Shaykh: Even this is a deficiency in sincerity.The righteous said:
[Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لا نُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلا شُكُوراًA vast difference.