Acceptance Acts

How can our actions be accepted?

We need to find out what the conditions of acceptance with Allah are. Does that mean Allah accepts our deeds? It may happen that we do a lot of deeds if those deeds do not meet the conditions of Allah, and all our deeds are lost and wasted. Therefore, it is very important to find out the reasons why Allah Ta’ala accepts the good deeds we have done.

Factors Contributing to the acceptance process

When does the action become righteous?

Complete faith in Allah:

The first condition for the acceptance of deeds is faith in Allah. If there is no faith in Allah, then all our good deeds will not be acceptable to Allah. Allah says:

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Whoever, male or female, has acted righteously, while being a believer, We shall certainly make him live a good life, and shall give such people their reward for the best of what they used to do. (16:97)

At another place He said,

وَمَنْ أَرَادَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ وَسَعَىٰ لَهَا سَعْيَهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَانَ سَعْيُهُم مَّشْكُورًۭا

And whoever opts for the Hereafter and makes efforts for it as due, while he is a believer, then, the effort of such people is appreciated! (17:19)

In contrast, the person who does believe none of his actions are acceptable to Allah.

As Allah Ta’ala says:

قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَـٰلًا – ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا – أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَآئِهِۦ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَزْنًۭا

Say, “Shall We tell you about the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? Those are the ones whose effort in the worldly life has gone in vain, while they think they are doing well. Those are the ones who rejected the signs of their Lord and (the concept of) meeting with Him, so their deeds have gone to waste, and We shall assign to them no weight at all. (18:103,104,105)

However, the person who was not a believer then came to believe. Because of faith, there is hope that Allah will change the first deeds of such a person into good deeds. So Sayyidna Hakeem bin Hizam (رضي الله عنه) narrates that I asked;

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ أَشْيَاءَ كُنْتُ أَتَحَنَّثُ بِهَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ عَتَاقَةٍ وَصِلَةِ رَحِمٍ فَهَلْ فِيهَا مِنْ أَجْرٍ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ أَسْلَمْتَ عَلَى مَا سَلَفَ مِنْ خَيْرٍ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Hakim bin Hizam: I said to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), “Before embracing Islam I used to do good deeds like giving in charity, slave-manumitting, and the keeping of good relations with Kith and kin. Shall I be rewarded for those deeds?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “You became Muslim with all those good deeds (Without losing their reward).” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Sincerity

Ikhlas is that a good deed is purely for the sake of Allah, and its purpose is not for worldly gain, hypocrisy, or pleasing other than Allah. Allah says:

وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ

while they were not ordered but to worship Allah, making their submission exclusive for him with no deviation, and to establish Salāh and pay Zakāh. That is the way of the straight religion. (98:5)

He said at another place,

فَٱعْبُدِ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصًۭا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ – أَلَا لِلَّهِ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْخَالِصُ ۚ

so worship Allah making your submission exclusive for Him. Remember, Allah alone deserves the exclusive submission. (93:2,3)

So you should worship only Allah, so while purifying your religion, you should worship Allah alone. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said:

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَرْحٍ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ أُسَامَةَ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ زَيْدٍ – أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ، مَوْلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَامِرِ بْنِ كُرَيْزٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا، هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ دَاوُدَ وَزَادَ وَنَقَصَ وَمِمَّا زَادَ فِيهِ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَجْسَادِكُمْ وَلاَ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَأَشَارَ بِأَصَابِعِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ ‏.‏

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Huraira with some addition (and it is this): ” Verily Allah does not look to your bodies nor to your faces but He looks to your hearts,” and he pointed towards the heart with his fingers. (Sahih Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ هِلاَلٍ الْحِمْصِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حِمْيَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ سَلاَّمٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ، عَنْ شَدَّادٍ أَبِي عَمَّارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ الْبَاهِلِيِّ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلاً غَزَا يَلْتَمِسُ الأَجْرَ وَالذِّكْرَ مَا لَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ لاَ شَىْءَ لَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَأَعَادَهَا ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ يَقُولُ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ لاَ شَىْءَ لَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏”‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَقْبَلُ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ إِلاَّ مَا كَانَ لَهُ خَالِصًا وَابْتُغِيَ بِهِ وَجْهُهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Abu ‘Umamah Al-Bahili said: “A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘What do you think of a man who fights seeking reward and fame – what will he have?’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘He will not have anything.’ He repeated it three times, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: ‘He will not have anything.’ Then he said: ‘Allah does not accept any deed, except that which is purely for Him, and seeking His Face.'” (Sunan an-Nasa’i)

Divine love and Divine fear

These two conditions are also necessary because every action is not based on divine love, and divine love is not worship. A degree of love for Allah, which is accompanied by humility and humility, is required, as Allah Almighty says:

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَندَادًۭا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّۭا لِّلَّهِ ۗ

Among the people there are some who set up co-gods beside Allah whom they love like the love due to Allah. But those who believe are most firm in their love for Allah. (2:165)

And there are some people who make others partners with Allah and have such love for them, as love should be for Allah, and those who believe are very strict in their love for Allah.

Follow the Sunnah

One of the basic things in the acceptance of actions is that the action is in accordance with the way of the Messenger of Allah; may God bless him and grant him peace. If our action is not in accordance with the Sunnah, it is not acceptable, as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said;

عَنْ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أُمِّ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، قَالَتْ: قَالَ: رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم “مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ [رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ] ،[وَمُسْلِمٌ] وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ: مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ”.

On the authority of the mother of the faithful, Aisha (ra), who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who innovates something in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) that is not of it will have it rejected (by Allah).”
[Bukhari & Muslim] In another version in Muslim it reads: “He who does an act which we have not commanded, will have it rejected (by Allah).” (An-Nawawi)

Therefore, Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik RA states

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ جَاءَ ثَلَاثَة رَهْط إِلَى بيُوت أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَلَمَّا أخبروا كَأَنَّهُمْ تقالوها فَقَالُوا وَأَيْنَ نَحْنُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ قَالَ أحدهم أما أَنا فَإِنِّي أُصَلِّي اللَّيْل أبدا وَقَالَ آخر أَنا أَصوم الدَّهْر وَلَا أفطر وَقَالَ آخر أَنَا أَعْتَزِلُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَا أَتَزَوَّجُ أَبَدًا فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ: «أَنْتُمُ الَّذِينَ قُلْتُمْ كَذَا وَكَذَا أَمَا وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَخْشَاكُمْ لِلَّهِ وَأَتْقَاكُمْ لَهُ لَكِنِّي أَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ وَأُصَلِّي وَأَرْقُدُ وَأَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مني»

Anas said: Three people came to the Prophet’s wives and asked how the Prophet conducted his worship. When they were told about it they seemed to consider it little and said, “What a difference there is between us and the Prophet whose former and latter sins have been forgiven him by God!” One of them said, “As for me, I will always pray during the night.” Another said, “I will fast during the daytime and not break my fast.” The other said, “I will have nothing to do with women and will never marry.” Then the Prophet came to them and said, “Are you the people who said such and such? By God, I am the one of you who fears and reverences God most, yet I fast and I break my fast; I pray and I sleep; and I marry women. He who is displeased with my sunna has nothing to do with me.” [Bukhari and Muslim.] (Mishkat al-Masabih)

Avoid hypocrisy

If we want our good deeds to be accepted. So one of its conditions is that there is no hypocrisy in our actions. All our actions are without hypocrisy. Because any deed done with hypocrisy is not acceptable to Allah. So Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) said, I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is saying this,

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:
” إِنَّ أَوَّلَ النَّاسِ يُقْضَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ اسْتُشْهِدَ، فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَعَرَّفَهُ نِعَمَهُ فَعَرَفَهَا، قَالَ: فَمَا عَمِلْتَ فِيهَا؟ قَالَ قَاتَلْتُ فِيكَ حَتَّى اسْتُشْهِدْتُ، قَالَ: كَذَبْتَ، وَلَكِنَّكَ قَاتَلْتَ لِأَنْ يُقَالَ: جَرِيءٌ، فَقَدْ قِيلَ، ثُمَّ أُمِرَ بِهِ فَسُحِبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ حَتَّى أُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ. وَرَجُلٌ تَعَلَّمَ الْعِلْمَ وَعَلَّمَهُ وَقَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ، فَأُتِيَ بِهِ، فَعَرَّفَهُ نِعَمَهُ فَعَرَفَهَا، قَالَ: فَمَا عَمِلْتَ فِيهَا؟ قَالَ: تَعَلَّمْتُ الْعِلْمَ وَعَلَّمْتُهُ، وَقَرَأْتُ فِيكَ الْقُرْآنَ، قَالَ: كَذَبْتَ، وَلَكِنَّكَ تَعَلَّمْتَ الْعِلْمَ لِيُقَالَ: عَالِمٌ، وَقَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ لِيُقَالَ: هُوَ قَارِئٌ، فَقَدْ قِيلَ، ثُمَّ أُمِرَ بِهِ، فَسُحِبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ حَتَّى أُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ. وَرَجُلٌ وَسَّعَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَأَعْطَاهُ مِنْ أَصْنَافِ الْمَالِ كُلِّهِ، فَأُتِيَ بِهِ، فَعَرَّفَهُ نِعَمَهُ فَعَرَفَهَا، قَالَ: فَمَا عَمِلْتَ فِيهَا؟ قَالَ: مَا تَرَكْتُ مِنْ سَبِيلٍ تُحِبُّ أَنْ يُنْفَقَ فِيهَا إِلَّا أَنْفَقْتُ فِيهَا لَكَ، قَالَ: كَذَبْتَ، وَلَكِنَّكَ فَعَلْتَ لِيُقَالَ: هُوَ جَوَادٌ، فَقَدْ قِيلَ، ثُمَّ أُمِرَ بِهِ فَسُحِبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ، ثُمَّ أُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ”.
رواه مسلم (وكذلك الترمذي والنسائي)

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: The first of people against whom judgment will be pronounced on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who died a martyr. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. [ The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I fought for you until I died a martyr. He will say: You have lied – you did but fight that it might be said [of you]: He is courageous. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Another] will be a man who has studied [religious] knowledge and has taught it and who used to recite the Quran. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I studied [religious] knowledge and I taught it and I recited the Quran for Your sake. He will say: You have lied – you did but study [religious] knowledge that it might be said [of you]: He is learned. And you recited the Quran that it might be said [of you]: He is a reciter. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Another] will be a man whom Allah had made rich and to whom He had given all kinds of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I left no path [untrodden] in which You like money to be spent without spending in it for Your sake. He will say: You have lied – you did but do so that it might be said [of you]: He is open-handed. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire.
It was related by Muslim (also by at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasa’i). (Hadith Qudsi)

Its meaning is to hope for the reward of righteous deeds from Allah Ta’ala. Accountability is often mentioned in the hadiths of the Prophet, as the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ. وَمَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ. وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-qadr [Night of Decree] in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven.” [Bukhari and Muslim] – (Mishkat al-Masabih)

And from these hadiths, it is clear that whatever work should be done, there should be an intention to reward.

Honesty in action

Truthfulness means that a person should be truthful in his actions. The meaning of Sadaq is that a person should follow the path of Allah with complete determination and do good deeds, the only thing that inspires the action is the pleasure of Allah, and this action is not related to worldly affairs or selfish desires. Allah Ta’ala said;

لِلْفُقَرَآءِ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ وَأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنًۭا وَيَنصُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّـٰدِقُونَ

(And fai’ is especially) for the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and properties, while they were seeking Allah’s grace and pleasure, and were helping (the religion of) Allah and His Messenger. They are the truthful. (59:8)

Meeting with Allah Ta’ala and accepting the impression of Allah’s Book

A believer has the desire to meet Allah and the fear of appearing before Allah, and being inspired by the Book of Allah means that it is good to obey and follow what is prescribed in the Divine Book, and it is fatal to oppose it. Is. Doing an act inspired by something other than Allah, for example, a person does a good deed but not by understanding the command of Allah but by being influenced by his party, sect, imam, peer and mentor, etc. Allah says:

قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَـٰلًا – ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا – أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَآئِهِۦ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَزْنًۭا

Say, “Shall We tell you about the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? Those are the ones whose effort in the worldly life has gone in vain, while they think they are doing well. Those are the ones who rejected the signs of their Lord and (the concept of) meeting with Him, so their deeds have gone to waste, and We shall assign to them no weight at all. (18:103,104,105)

Avoidance of forbidden acts

It is also very important to avoid forbidden actions for the acceptance of an action, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned a man;

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَيِّبًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ المؤْمنينَ بِمَا أمرَ بِهِ المرسَلينَ فَقَالَ: (يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ واعْمَلوا صَالحا) وَقَالَ: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ) ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ: يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ وَغُذِّيَ بِالْحَرَامِ فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ؟ “. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying that: God is good and accepts only what is good, and He has given the same command to the believers as He has given to the Messengers, saying, “0 Messengers, eat of what is good and act righteously” (Al-Qur’an 23: 51) and also, “You who believe, eat of the good things which We have provided for you” (Al-Qur’an 2: 172). Then he mentioned a man who makes a long journey in a dishevelled and dusty state, who stretches out his hands to heaven saying, “My Lord, my Lord,” when his food, drink and clothing are of an unlawful nature, and he is nourished by what is unlawful, and asked how such a one could be given an answer.
Muslim transmitted it. (Mishkat al-Masabih)

Forsaking sins

It would be very good if one asks for forgiveness for one’s previous sins before doing a good deed because Allah does not accept good deeds in the presence of sins, as He says:

قُلْ أَنفِقُوا۟ طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًۭا لَّن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُمْ ۖ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًۭا فَـٰسِقِينَ

Say, “Spend, willingly or unwillingly, it will never be accepted from you. You have been a sinning people.” (9:53)

To pay the rights of the servants

It is very important to pay the rights of Allah along with the rights of the servants; this is what Rasulullah (ﷺ) tries to understand from a blessed hadith:

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ – عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْمُفْلِسُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا الْمُفْلِسُ فِينَا مَنْ لاَ دِرْهَمَ لَهُ وَلاَ مَتَاعَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ إِنَّ الْمُفْلِسَ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِصَلاَةٍ وَصِيَامٍ وَزَكَاةٍ وَيَأْتِي قَدْ شَتَمَ هَذَا وَقَذَفَ هَذَا وَأَكَلَ مَالَ هَذَا وَسَفَكَ دَمَ هَذَا وَضَرَبَ هَذَا فَيُعْطَى هَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ وَهَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ فَإِنْ فَنِيَتْ حَسَنَاتُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْضَى مَا عَلَيْهِ أُخِذَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُمْ فَطُرِحَتْ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ طُرِحَ فِي النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Do you know who is poor? They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: A poor man amongst us is one who has neither dirham with him nor wealth. He (the Holy Prophet) said: The poor of my Umma would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers and fasts and Zakat but (he would find himself bankrupt on that day as he would have exhausted his funds of virtues) since he hurled abuses upon others, brought calumny against others and unlawfully consumed the wealth of others and shed the blood of others and beat others, and his virtues would be credited to the account of one (who suffered at his hand). And if his good deeds fall short to clear the account, then his sins would be entered in (his account) and he would be thrown in the Hell-Fire. (Sahih Muslim)

From this hadith, it is known that in order to go to heaven, it is not only necessary to pay the rights of Allah but also to consider the rights of the servants.

Making dua after good deeds

It is very important to arrange prayers to accept and protect righteous deeds. The dua that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught us to recite after every prayer is a comprehensive dua for righteous deeds. Thus, it is narrated from Sayyid Na Mu’adh bin Jabal (رضي الله عنه) that the teaching of the Messenger of Allah held his hand and said: O Mu’adh, I beseech you not to stop reciting this dua after every prayer:

اللّهُـمَّ أَعِـنِّي عَلـى ذِكْـرِكَ وَشُكْـرِك ، وَحُسْـنِ عِبـادَتِـك

O Allah, help me to remember You, to give You thanks, and to perform Your worship in the best manner. (Hisn al-Muslim)

And the prayer of Sayyiduna Sulaiman (عليه السلام):

رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

“My Lord, enable me to become grateful to Your favor that you have bestowed on me and on my parents, and to do good deeds that You like, and admit me, with Your mercy, among Your righteous servants.” (27:19)

The prayer of Sayyid Na Ibrahim (عليه السلام) after the construction of the House of Allah, as in the Holy Qur’an;

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

When Ibrāhīm was raising up the foundations of the House, along with Ismā‘īl (Ishmael) (supplicating): “Our Lord accept (this service) from us! Indeed, You – and You alone – are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! (2:127)

May Allah Ta’ala help us to do more good deeds in this month of Ramadan and accept them in His presence. Aaameen

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