Some people, when they perform an act of worship, treat it as a habit. Do they receive reward for it?
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The student: Some people... do they receive reward for this action?
The Shaykh : Yes, and by Allah, in any case, the obligation is fulfilled by doing so, but it will not reach the level of perfection. Therefore, we always say that a person should have two intentions when performing an act of worship: two intentions. The intention of the act itself, and the intention of the one for whom it is done. As for the intention of the act, everyone who acts intends this; for example, when one comes to pray the midday prayer, he intends the midday prayer, right? But the intention of the one for whom it is done is that he wants to draw near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) through it. People often overlook this, and Satan prevents them from it. Here, there is a third intention: the intention of following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The intention of following. We ask Allah to protect us from all these meanings, for they are often absent from us. There is no intention of obeying the command, which is the intention of the one for whom it is done, and no intention of following, which is for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Because if you intend, and you feel this intention, you will love Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and love the Messenger, and you will feel that you are a servant of Allah who follows the Messenger. You will find a taste in the worship that you do not find if you do it as a habit. Therefore, we say: the habits of the successful are acts of worship, and the acts of worship of the heedless are habits.
The Shaykh : Yes, and by Allah, in any case, the obligation is fulfilled by doing so, but it will not reach the level of perfection. Therefore, we always say that a person should have two intentions when performing an act of worship: two intentions. The intention of the act itself, and the intention of the one for whom it is done. As for the intention of the act, everyone who acts intends this; for example, when one comes to pray the midday prayer, he intends the midday prayer, right? But the intention of the one for whom it is done is that he wants to draw near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) through it. People often overlook this, and Satan prevents them from it. Here, there is a third intention: the intention of following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The intention of following. We ask Allah to protect us from all these meanings, for they are often absent from us. There is no intention of obeying the command, which is the intention of the one for whom it is done, and no intention of following, which is for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Because if you intend, and you feel this intention, you will love Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and love the Messenger, and you will feel that you are a servant of Allah who follows the Messenger. You will find a taste in the worship that you do not find if you do it as a habit. Therefore, we say: the habits of the successful are acts of worship, and the acts of worship of the heedless are habits.