What is the ruling on seeking nearness to Allah through righteous deeds?
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The questioner : We have heard, O long-lived one, about those who were trapped by the rock and called upon Allah through their righteous deeds...?
The Shaykh : That is, Abu Ali is asking about seeking nearness to Allah through righteous deeds. Is it permissible? For example, a person performs a righteous deed and says: "O Allah, I have done such and such; I prayed, I gave charity, I chaste myself from fornication, and 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 no harm in it. It is among the prescribed matters, even in the case of abandoning sins. The man who sought nearness to Allah among the three who were trapped by the rock was one who abandoned what is forbidden. He had a cousin whom he loved intensely, and he tried to seduce her, but she refused. Years passed, and she became in need, so 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: "O servant of Allah, fear Allah! Do not break the seal except with its right." So he stood up and left her, although she was the most beloved of people to him. He left her out of chastity and mindfulness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). He sought nearness to Allah through this abandonment of the forbidden, for he had sat with her in the position of a husband with his wife, but he did not have intercourse with her. When she reminded him of Allah and said, "Fear Allah! Do not break the seal except with its right," he stood up for Allah, fearing none but Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This became the cause of his distress being relieved.
The Shaykh : That is, Abu Ali is asking about seeking nearness to Allah through righteous deeds. Is it permissible? For example, a person performs a righteous deed and says: "O Allah, I have done such and such; I prayed, I gave charity, I chaste myself from fornication, and 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 no harm in it. It is among the prescribed matters, even in the case of abandoning sins. The man who sought nearness to Allah among the three who were trapped by the rock was one who abandoned what is forbidden. He had a cousin whom he loved intensely, and he tried to seduce her, but she refused. Years passed, and she became in need, so 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: "O servant of Allah, fear Allah! Do not break the seal except with its right." So he stood up and left her, although she was the most beloved of people to him. He left her out of chastity and mindfulness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). He sought nearness to Allah through this abandonment of the forbidden, for he had sat with her in the position of a husband with his wife, but he did not have intercourse with her. When she reminded him of Allah and said, "Fear Allah! Do not break the seal except with its right," he stood up for Allah, fearing none but Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This became the cause of his distress being relieved.