The Conditions of Righteous Deeds.
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The Shaykh : Righteous deeds are those that encompass two things: sincerity for Allah and following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).
So whoever does not have sincerity, his deed is invalid, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted in the Holy Hadith:Sahih Muslim 2985.
And whoever is sincere for Allah but not in accordance with the Shari'ah, his deed is also not accepted from him, due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):Sahih Muslim 1718b. And worship cannot be in accordance with the Shari'ah unless it agrees with the Shari'ah in six matters.
The first is the cause.
The second is the type.
And third: the amount.
The fourth is the manner.
And fifth: the time.
And sixth: the place.
So if one of these six matters is lacking, the worship is not in accordance with the Shari'ah.
For example, if a person is sincere for Allah and sacrifices a single horse, it is not accepted from him, because that is a type that is not valid for the 'Id sacrifice. But if he sacrifices a cow, I am certain it is valid, because it is of the correct type.
Likewise, if a person sacrifices a cow but not in the time of the 'Id sacrifice, it is not accepted from him. So if he sacrifices a cow before the 'Id al-Adha prayer, it is not accepted from him, because it is not in the proper time.
And if a man performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) in the last ten days of Ramadan in his house instead of the mosque, it is not accepted from him. This is because he contradicted the Shari'ah regarding the place.
And if a man performs wudu' (ablution) upside down, meaning he starts the wudu' with his hands, washing his hands to the elbows, and then washes his face, it is not accepted from him, because it is not in the prescribed manner. So it must be in accordance with the Shari'ah in its manner.
And if a man prays the Zuhr prayer with five rak'ahs, it is not accepted from him unless he was forgetful, in which case the prayer is valid and is completed with sujud al-sahw (the prostration for forgetfulness). But if it is intentional, it is not accepted, because he added to the prayer. He added to the number.
So fear Allah, my brother, fear Allah, do good deeds, and prepare for what is to come of your life, for this is what must be observed. As for what has passed, its matter is easy, because if what has passed was obligatory, the person performed it and repented to Allah; and if it was forbidden, he sought forgiveness from Allah for it and fulfilled what is obligatory upon him regarding this transgression. And Allah knows best.
So whoever does not have sincerity, his deed is invalid, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted in the Holy Hadith:
I am the One, One Who does not stand in need of a partner. If anyone does anything in which he associates anyone else with Me, I shall abandon him with one whom he associates with Allah.
أنا أغنى الشركاء عن الشرك من عمل عملا أشرك فيه معي غيري تركته وشركهAnd whoever is sincere for Allah but not in accordance with the Shari'ah, his deed is also not accepted from him, due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):
He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردThe first is the cause.
The second is the type.
And third: the amount.
The fourth is the manner.
And fifth: the time.
And sixth: the place.
So if one of these six matters is lacking, the worship is not in accordance with the Shari'ah.
For example, if a person is sincere for Allah and sacrifices a single horse, it is not accepted from him, because that is a type that is not valid for the 'Id sacrifice. But if he sacrifices a cow, I am certain it is valid, because it is of the correct type.
Likewise, if a person sacrifices a cow but not in the time of the 'Id sacrifice, it is not accepted from him. So if he sacrifices a cow before the 'Id al-Adha prayer, it is not accepted from him, because it is not in the proper time.
And if a man performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) in the last ten days of Ramadan in his house instead of the mosque, it is not accepted from him. This is because he contradicted the Shari'ah regarding the place.
And if a man performs wudu' (ablution) upside down, meaning he starts the wudu' with his hands, washing his hands to the elbows, and then washes his face, it is not accepted from him, because it is not in the prescribed manner. So it must be in accordance with the Shari'ah in its manner.
And if a man prays the Zuhr prayer with five rak'ahs, it is not accepted from him unless he was forgetful, in which case the prayer is valid and is completed with sujud al-sahw (the prostration for forgetfulness). But if it is intentional, it is not accepted, because he added to the prayer. He added to the number.
So fear Allah, my brother, fear Allah, do good deeds, and prepare for what is to come of your life, for this is what must be observed. As for what has passed, its matter is easy, because if what has passed was obligatory, the person performed it and repented to Allah; and if it was forbidden, he sought forgiveness from Allah for it and fulfilled what is obligatory upon him regarding this transgression. And Allah knows best.