اچھی نیت

It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man asked, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! A man intends to fight in the path of Allah, but along with it he also wishes to gain some worldly wealth — (how much reward is there for him?)” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “There is no reward for him.” The people considered this a very serious matter and said to the man, “Ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the question again; perhaps you did not put your point clearly.” So the man asked again, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! A man intends to fight in the path of Allah, and along with it he also wishes to gain some worldly wealth — (how much reward is there for him?)” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “There is no reward for him.” The noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) again said to the man, “Ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once more.” He put the same question to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ a third time, and he ﷺ said, “There is no reward for him.”

Deeds that the Sharia has forbidden remain wrong and prohibited no matter with what intention they are performed. But as for the deeds that have been duly commanded, if the intention behind them is to please Allah, then that good intention makes the deed good; and if, in performing that deed, the aim is to be seen by people, or to keep in view some benefit other than the deed itself, or to parade one’s own piety, then because of that showing-off and hypocrisy the deed becomes bad.

That is why, in offering prayer, fasting and the obligation of Hajj, in giving charity, in acquiring the knowledge of religion, in preaching and admonishing, in delivering sermons and conveying the message, and in writing and compiling, one must avoid the intention of fame and display, and must keep in view the pleasure of Allah; otherwise all these good deeds will carry no weight with Allah, and instead one will have to suffer the punishment for parading one’s own greatness and importance.

For every good deed to bear fruit, sincerity of intention is essential; otherwise there is not only the loss of reward but also the danger of severe punishment from Allah, because Allah knows everything: “Say: whether you conceal what is in your hearts or make it known, Allah knows it (in every state); He knows whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and Allah has power over all things.” (Aal-e-Imran: 29) The essence of this hadith too is that every Muslim should perform his deeds for the pleasure and approval of Allah, and should avoid doing them to be seen by people or to make a show before them. With Allah, a person’s deed is valued according to its sincerity; the more sincere a deed, the more acceptable it is to Allah. May Allah grant us all the ability to do every deed with a good intention. (Ameen)