The Ruling on Seeking Nearness to Allah Through Good Deeds
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We have heard about those who were trapped by the rock and called upon Allah with their good deeds. Is seeking nearness to Allah through good deeds permissible?
Seeking nearness to Allah through good deeds is permissible.For example, a person does a good deed and says: “O Allah, I did such and such: I prayed, I gave charity, I refrained from unlawful sexual intercourse, I was dutiful to my parents. O Allah, if I did that for Your sake, then relieve my distress or cure my illness.”
This is permissible and there is nothing wrong with it. It is among the prescribed matters, even in the case of abandoning sins. One of the three men who were trapped by the rock abandoned what is forbidden. He had a cousin’s daughter whom he loved intensely. He proposed to her, but she refused. Years passed, and when she was in need, she came to him and made herself available to him. When he sat with her in the position of a husband with his wife,She said: he said, “O servant of Allah! Fear Allah! Do not break the seal except with its right.” So he got up and left her, even though she was the most beloved person to him. He left her out of chastity and mindfulness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). He sought nearness to Allah through this abandonment of what is forbidden, because he had sat with her in the position of a husband with his wife, except that he did not have intercourse with her.When she mentioned it to Allah, she said: “Fear Allah! Do not break the seal except with its right.” He got up from her, fearing none but Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This became the cause of his distress being relieved.
Seeking nearness to Allah through good deeds is permissible.For example, a person does a good deed and says: “O Allah, I did such and such: I prayed, I gave charity, I refrained from unlawful sexual intercourse, I was dutiful to my parents. O Allah, if I did that for Your sake, then relieve my distress or cure my illness.”
This is permissible and there is nothing wrong with it. It is among the prescribed matters, even in the case of abandoning sins. One of the three men who were trapped by the rock abandoned what is forbidden. He had a cousin’s daughter whom he loved intensely. He proposed to her, but she refused. Years passed, and when she was in need, she came to him and made herself available to him. When he sat with her in the position of a husband with his wife,She said: he said, “O servant of Allah! Fear Allah! Do not break the seal except with its right.” So he got up and left her, even though she was the most beloved person to him. He left her out of chastity and mindfulness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). He sought nearness to Allah through this abandonment of what is forbidden, because he had sat with her in the position of a husband with his wife, except that he did not have intercourse with her.When she mentioned it to Allah, she said: “Fear Allah! Do not break the seal except with its right.” He got up from her, fearing none but Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This became the cause of his distress being relieved.