The conditions of accepting actions

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah. We praise Him and seek His Help and Forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of ourselves and the evils of our actions, whom Allah guides no one can mislead him and whoever has been misled no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone without having any partners and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

Of the obligatory knowledge which a Muslim must know is learning the conditions of accepting actions by Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). Actions are not considered valid until they meet three conditions according to the consensus of scholars since the time of the Companions until today. Moreover, there are many authentic explicit proofs from the Book of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace be upon him) to that.

The first condition is: Islam which linguistically means submission. Idiomatically, it is submission to Allah (may He be Exalted) by monotheism, abidance by His Obedience, and freeing oneself from polytheism and its people. In other words: It is abidance by Allah's Commands with satisfaction and sincerity. Allah (He may be Glorified) says: "Verily, Allâh accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 27]. Man shall not become pious but after being a Muslim, the meaning is: Accepting actions are limited only to pious Muslims.

The second condition is: Sincerity which linguistically means clarity. We say: Rose water essence when it is purified from impurities. Idiomatically, it is dedicating the acts of worship to Allah for the sake of His reward without showing-off, seeking reputation, hypocrisy, or worldly benefits. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)." [Surat Al Bayyinah: 5].

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "So, worship Allâh (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allâh's sake only. *  Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allâh only." [Surat Az-Zumar: 2 - 3].

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him): "Allâh Alone I worship by doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only (and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship.)" * So worship what you like besides Him." [Surat Az-Zumar: 14 - 15].

Allah (may He be Exalted) described His loyal Servants by saying: "And they give food, inspite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to the Miskîn (the needy), the orphan, and the captive *  (Saying): "We feed you seeking Allâh's Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you." * Verily, We fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislike to it). * So Allâh saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them Nadrah (a light of beauty) and joy. * And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient." [Surat Al Insan: 8 - 12].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Actions are based on intention and a person will get the reward according to his intention."

Sincerity has three matters that may corrupt it and accordingly the action shall be corrupt too:

The first matter is: Hypocrisy which linguistically means: Showing. Idiomatically, it is showing the acts of worship to people for the sake of their admiration. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The most fearful thing that I fear for my nation is the hidden Shirk (monotheism). Somebody asked: What is the hidden Shirk, O Messenger of Allah? He said: hypocrisy."  In another narration: He said: "It is when man adorns his Salah so that his Muslim brother see it."

The second matter is:  Fame which linguistically means: Publicity or speaking about a matter. Idiomatically, it is informing people of the acts of worship for the sake of gaining their admiration. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who does good things in public to show off and win the praise of the people, Allah will disclose his real intention (and humiliate him)."

It is not part of hypocrisy or fame that a person would inform the people about his acts of worship in order to encourage them to do righteous deeds. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "If you disclose your Sadaqât (alms-giving), it is well." [Surat Al Baqarah: 271].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "One who guides to good is like the one who does it."

The third matter is: Doing the acts of worship for the sake of worldly interests. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allâh, but it is He Who deceives them." [Surat An-Nisa': 142].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: So, whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), then his emigration was for Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). And whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."

The third condition is: Following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger (peace be upon him) have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger (peace be upon him), he has indeed strayed into a plain error." [Surat Al Ahzab: 36].

Allah (may He be Exalted) said: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad peace be upon him) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much." [Surat Al Ahzab: 21].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). And fear Allâh; verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment." [Surat Al Hashr: 7].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone introduces in our matter something which does not belong to it, it will be rejected."

It means: Whoever violates the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) concerning the acts of worship, his actions shall be unacceptable.

We ask Allah to make us from the loyal Muslims who follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and to accept our actions, for He is the Most Generous, and the last of our call is praise be to Allah the Lord of all the Worlds.