Explaining the conditions for the acceptance of worship.
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The Shaykh : It should be known that the worship of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, is not realized nor accepted by Him except with two conditions. The first condition is that it be in accordance with the Sunnah. If the worship is contrary to the Sunnah, it is returned to its doer, even if he intended by it to draw near to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, due to many hadiths on this matter, the most famous of which is His saying (peace and blessings be upon him) Sahih Muslim 1718a and other hadiths.
Therefore, it is obligatory for every Muslim who wishes to draw near to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, with any of the acts of worship, to keep in mind that this worship must be reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or, at the very least, from the righteous Salaf. This is the first condition for the deed to be righteous and acceptable to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He.
The second condition is that the one who worships Allah, Mighty and Majestic, be sincere to Him in this worship, seeking nothing behind it in terms of reward, gratitude, or immediate gain. The evidence for this is the Book and the Sunnah.
From the Book are noble verses, such as His saying, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Al-Bayyinah 98:5] [Al-A'raf 7:29] meaning, for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. And He, Mighty and Majestic, also said: [Al-Kahf 18:110] The scholars of tafsir, such as al-Qurtubi and others, said regarding this verse: [Al-Kahf 18:110] meaning, in accordance with the Sunnah. If the worship is not in accordance with the Sunnah, it is not a righteous deed. This is the first condition. The other condition is His saying, Exalted is He: [Al-Kahf 18:110] And shirk, as you know, is either in the essence of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, or in one of His attributes, or in His worship, Mighty and Majestic, alongside others. For this reason, it has come in some authentic hadiths, from the hadith of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him), that a man said: O Messenger of Allah, a man among us fights for the sake of his tribe, out of bravery and defense, and words similar to these; is that in the path of Allah? He said: They said: Then who is in the path of Allah? He said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1646Sahih (Darussalam) And it has come in "Al-Mustadrak of al-Hakim" and others with a strong chain that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 42:19 meaning, from the deeds of the Hereafter, so he has no share in the Hereafter.
The most terrifying hadith in this regard is what Muslim and others narrated from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: These three are the first ones for whom the Fire will be kindled on the Day of Resurrection.
Therefore, you will find that the matter of the worshipper and the worshipper in accordance with the Sunnah is in danger if he seeks behind his worship anything other than the Face of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. I say this on the occasion of this good enthusiasm that I see, manifested in your attendance at this lesson every morning. However, what draws my attention is this crowding of yours, which does not represent Islamic etiquette on one hand, and on the other hand, it may make some observers feel that this crowding is not for the sake of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. I do not assert this, but as I said earlier, it may make some observers feel that this crowding is for the sake of showing off. It was said long ago: "The love of showing off cuts off showing off".
Therefore, I advise our brothers with these two truly important pieces of advice: the first is that they worship Allah with what came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and that they stay far away from innovations in matters. The other is that what they intend in their acts of worship, including beneficial knowledge, be pure for the Face of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He.
And this is a reminder, and the reminder benefits the believers. Now, you may raise your questions.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon the most noble of the prophets and messengers.
He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason)
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منهTherefore, it is obligatory for every Muslim who wishes to draw near to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, with any of the acts of worship, to keep in mind that this worship must be reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or, at the very least, from the righteous Salaf. This is the first condition for the deed to be righteous and acceptable to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He.
The second condition is that the one who worships Allah, Mighty and Majestic, be sincere to Him in this worship, seeking nothing behind it in terms of reward, gratitude, or immediate gain. The evidence for this is the Book and the Sunnah.
From the Book are noble verses, such as His saying, Blessed and Exalted is He:
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion
وما أمروا إلا ليعبدوا الله مخلصين له الدينsincere to Him in religion
مخلصين له الدينSo whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."
فمن كان يرجو لقاء ربه فليعمل عمل صالحا ولا يشرك بعبادة ربه أحداSo whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work
فمن كان يرجو لقاء ربه فليعمل عملا صالحاand not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."
ولا يشرك بعبادة ربه أحداNo.
لاWhoever fought so that the Word of Allah is supreme, then he is in Allah's cause.
من قاتل لتكون كلمة الله هي العليا فهو في سبيل اللهGive this Ummah good news of honor, elevation, and authority in the earth, and whoever among them does a deed for the sake of this world, he will have no share in the Hereafter
بشّر هذه الأمة بالسناء والرفعة والتمكين في الأرض ومن عمل منهم عملا للدنيا فليس له في الأخرة من نصيبAnd whoever among them does a deed for the sake of this world
ومن عمل منهم عملا للدنياThe most terrifying hadith in this regard is what Muslim and others narrated from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The first ones for whom the Fire will be kindled on the Day of Resurrection are a scholar, a mujahid, and a rich man. The scholar is brought and it is said to him: What did you do with what you knew? He says: O my Lord, I spread it in Your path. It is said to him: You lied; you only taught so that people would say, "So-and-so is a scholar." And it is said: Take him to the Fire. Then the mujahid is brought and it is said to him: O My servant, what did you do with the strength I bestowed upon you? He says: O my Lord, I fought in Your path. It is said to him: You lied; you only fought so that people would say, "So-and-so is a hero." And it is said: Take him to the Fire. Then the rich man is brought and it is said to him: What did you do with the wealth I bestowed upon you? He says: O my Lord, I spent it in Your path. It is said to him: You lied; you only spent it so that it would be said, "So-and-so is generous." And it is said: Take him to the Fire
أول من تُسْعر بهم النار يوم القيامة عالم ومُجاهد وغني يُؤتى بالعالم فيُقال له ماذا عملت فيما علمت فيقول يا رب نشرته في سبيلك فيُقال له كذبت إنما علّمت ليقول الناس فلان عالم وقد قيل خذوا به إلى النار ثم يؤتى بالمجاهد فيُقال له أي عبدي ماذا عملت فيما أنعمت عليك من قوة؟ فيقول يا رب جاهدت في سبيلك فيُقال له كذبت إنما جاهدت ليقول الناس فلان بطل وقد قيل خذوا به إلى النار ثم يؤتى بالغني فيُقال له ماذا عملت فيما أنعمت عليك من مال؟ فيقول يا رب أنفقته في سبيلك فيُقال له كذبت إنما أنفقت ليقال فلان كريم وقد قيل خذوا به إلى النارTherefore, you will find that the matter of the worshipper and the worshipper in accordance with the Sunnah is in danger if he seeks behind his worship anything other than the Face of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. I say this on the occasion of this good enthusiasm that I see, manifested in your attendance at this lesson every morning. However, what draws my attention is this crowding of yours, which does not represent Islamic etiquette on one hand, and on the other hand, it may make some observers feel that this crowding is not for the sake of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. I do not assert this, but as I said earlier, it may make some observers feel that this crowding is for the sake of showing off. It was said long ago: "The love of showing off cuts off showing off".
Therefore, I advise our brothers with these two truly important pieces of advice: the first is that they worship Allah with what came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and that they stay far away from innovations in matters. The other is that what they intend in their acts of worship, including beneficial knowledge, be pure for the Face of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He.
And this is a reminder, and the reminder benefits the believers. Now, you may raise your questions.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon the most noble of the prophets and messengers.