Conditions for the acceptance of righteous deeds.
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The Shaykh : And His saying, the Exalted: [Ash-Shu'ara 26:227] meaning: they performed righteous deeds. And I ask: when is a deed considered righteous?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : You have answered well. It must be sincere for Allah, worshipping Allah without showing off, without seeking fame, without seeking status, and without seeking wealth. One should only seek from Allah favor and pleasure. Allah the Exalted said regarding His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions:[Al-Fath 48:29] What do they seek? [Al-Fath 48:29] Sincerity is essential. Sahih Muslim 2985 for Allah is rich and does not need it. Beware, my brother, beware of showing off. Do not improve your prayer because people see you, do not give charity because people see you, and do not perform any deed for the sake of people saying: so-and-so did this. For that will nullify your deed. Also beware that Shaytan may enter you with this, meaning: the fear of showing off. For some people want to do a righteous deed, and Shaytan comes to them and says: You are a hypocrite. You are a hypocrite. He wants to attend the gatherings of knowledge, and Shaytan says to him: You are a hypocrite. He wants to give charity, and Shaytan says to him: You are a hypocrite. This is so that he does not perform the righteous deed. Beware of this, do not mind it, turn away from it. If Shaytan says to you: You are a hypocrite, leave him, turn away from him, for you are sincere.
Following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is also a condition. A deed is not righteous without it. So whoever innovates in the religion of Allah what is not part of it, his deed is not a righteous deed, even if what motivated him to do so was a matter beloved to Allah. His deed will be returned to him. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that he said:Sahih Muslim 1718b And in another wording: Sahih Muslim 1718a .
Except those [poets] who believe and do righteous deeds
إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِand do righteous deeds
وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : You have answered well. It must be sincere for Allah, worshipping Allah without showing off, without seeking fame, without seeking status, and without seeking wealth. One should only seek from Allah favor and pleasure. Allah the Exalted said regarding His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions:
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating
مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعاً سُجَّداًseeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure
يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلاً مِنْ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَاناًIf anyone does anything in which he associates anyone else with Me, I shall abandon him with one whom he associates with Allah.
من عمل عملاً أشرك فيه معي غيري تركه وشركهFollowing the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is also a condition. A deed is not righteous without it. So whoever innovates in the religion of Allah what is not part of it, his deed is not a righteous deed, even if what motivated him to do so was a matter beloved to Allah. His deed will be returned to him. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that he said: