Acceptance of actions

All praise be to Allah and peace be upon His Messenger. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Verily! Those who live in awe for fear of their Lord * And those who believe in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord, * And those who join not anyone (in worship) as partners with their Lord * And those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear (whether their alms and charities have been accepted or not), because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning). * It is these who race for the good deeds, and they are foremost in them [e.g. offering the compulsory Salat (prayers) in their (early) stated, fixed times and so on]." [Surat Al Mu'minun: 57 - 61].

At-Tirmidhy reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about this Ayah: "And those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear (whether their alms and charities, etc., have been accepted or not), because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning)." [Surat Al Mu'minun: 60]. `A'ishah asked: Are they who drink wine and steal? He replied: No, O daughter of As-Siddiq, they observe fasting, perform Salah and give in charity while they are afraid that their actions shall not be accepted, They are the people who hasten to (all) good actions."[1]

Despite the Companions' intensive effort in doing righteous deeds, they used to fear that their actions would not be accepted. `Abdullah ibn Abu Mulaykah said: "I caught up thirty of the Prophet's Companions who all feared hypocrisy for themselves and none of them said that he is still having the faith of Gabriel and Michael."[2]

Abu Ad-Darda' said: If I were sure that Allah had accepted one Salah from me, it would have been more beloved to me than the world and all that therein because Allah says: "Verily, Allâh accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 27]."[3]

Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Pay more attention to the acceptance of actions than the nature of actions. Have not you listened to Allah's Saying: Verily, Allâh accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)? [Surat Al Ma'idah: 27]."

Ibn `Atiyyah said: The meaning of piety is avoidance of polytheism according to the consensus of Ahlus-Sunnah (the Adherents of the Sunnah). So, the one who avoids polytheism while he is monotheist, his actions shall be accepted.

As for the one who avoids polytheism and sins, he shall have the highest degrees of acceptance and shall gain the mercy of Allah as Allah (may He be Exalted) promised.[4]

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving" [Surat Al Mulk: 2].

Al Fudayl ibn `Iyad said: The best work is the more sincere and the more correct: The sincere is the actions that are done solely for Allah and the more correct is the actions that are done according to the Sunnah.[5]

The people of knowledge said: Actions are not accepted except when they have two conditions:

1- The action must be done according to the ordinances ordained by Allah whether in His Book or explained by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who does any act against our Shari`ah, it will be rejected."[6]

Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhy reported in their Sunan from the Hadith of Al `Irbad ibn Sariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Hold fast to my Sunnah, and the examples of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs . Adhere to them and hold to it fast with your premolar teeth."[7]

2- Actions must be sincere for the sake of Allah because of the Prophet's saying:

"The reward of deeds depends upon intentions and every person shall get the reward according to what he has intended. 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 to marry a woman, then his emigration was for the thing for what he emigrated for."[8]

This Hadith was confirmed by Allah's Saying: "Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him): I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God - i.e. Allâh). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord." [Surat Al Kahf: 110].

The Shaykh of Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: According to Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (those adhering to the Sunnah and the Muslim main body), actions are accepted from those who fear Allah because their actions shall be done solely for Allah and according to the commands of Allah. So, whoever fears Allah, his actions shall be accepted even if he is disobedient in other actions. On the other hand, the one who does not fear Allah, his actions shall not be accepted even if he is obedient elsewhere.[9]

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night [i.e. the five compulsory Salat (prayers)]. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins)." [Surat Hud: 114].

So, if a good deed is not accepted from the wrong-doer, it will not erase bad actions.

A believer should not underestimate actions even if it is little because the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned of that when he said: "Do not belittle any good deed."[10]

An action may be accepted and will be a reason for entering Paradise. It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "While a dog was going round a well and was about to die of thirst, an Israeli prostitute saw it and took off her shoe and watered it. So Allah forgave her because of that good deed." [11]

Imam Muslim reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "I saw a man enjoying [the pleasures of] Paradise because of a tree he cut from the road and it was harming the people."[12]

Ibn Hajar said: "A person should not belittle minor good actions that he does or the minor evil deeds that he avoids, as he does not know what is the good deed which will cause him to have mercy or the bad deed which will incur the wrath of Allah upon him."[13]

Actions may not be accepted even if it is little in the eyes of its doer because of self-conceit, showing-off, egotism, or reminding others of favors which will be the cause for rejecting the action. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury." [Surat Al Baqarah: 264].

One of the greatest impediments for accepting actions is polytheism. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Verily, those who disbelieved, and died while they were disbelievers, the (whole) earth full of gold will not be accepted from anyone of them even if they offered it as a ransom. For them is a painful torment and they will have no helpers." [Surat Al `Imran: 91].

So, whoever worships Allah with another religion other than Islam, his actions shall not be accepted even if they are abundant. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Surat Al `Imran: 85].

Of the causes of accepting actions is invocation. Allah (may He be Exalted) says about Prophet Abraham: "And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) and (his son) Isma'il (Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah), (saying), Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower." [Surat Al Baqarah: 127].

Of which also asking for forgiveness. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Then depart from the place whence all the people depart and ask Allah for His Forgiveness. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful." [Surat Al Baqarah: 199].

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) finished his Salah, he used to say: "I ask for Allah's forgiveness thrice." Then he said: "O Allah, You are the Peace and from You is all peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honor."[14]

Of the signs of accepting actions is following a good deeds with another as some of the Predecessors said: "A good deed calls: My sister, my sister [it calls for another good deed to follow it], and the sin calls: My sister, my sister [it calls for another bad deed to follow it]."

This was confirmed by the Prophet's saying as was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):

"You must be truthful. Truthfulness leads to dutifulness and dutifulness leads to the Paradise." [15]

Of which also, a believer should feel his negligence in actions, the favor of Allah upon him as well as the guidance of Allah to him in that action. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "They regard as favor upon you (O Muhammad SAW) that they have embraced Islam. Say: Count not your Islam as a favor upon me. Nay, but Allah has conferred a favor upon you, that He has guided you to the Faith, if you indeed are true." [Surat Al Hujurat: 17].

Of which also is that a servant should feel the pleasure of worship and feel a self-assurance as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O Bilal, give us comfort with Salah."[16]

Allah (Glory be to Him) mentioned in His Saying: "And seek help in patience and As-Salât (the prayers) and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khâshi'ûn [i.e. the true believers in Allâh - those who obey Allâh with full submission, fear much from His Punishment, and believe in His Promise (Paradise) and in His Warnings (Hell)]." [Surat Al Baqarah: 45].

Some scholars said: The lightness of obedience is due to the love and obedience of the beloved because the joy of oneself is in the obedience of the beloved. It was reported in the Hadith: "The joy of my eye is found in Salah"[17] because of the company of Allah, the pleasure of His Nearness, and speaking to Him Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds [i.e., people], and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.

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[1] No. 3175 and Al Albany graded it as authentic in Sahih At-Tirmidhy (3/79) No. 2537.

[2] Sahih Al Bukhari, chapter on the believer's fear of the non-acceptance of his actions while he does not know.

[3] Tafsir Ibn Kathir, (5/166). Ibn Abu Hatim reported it with a good chain of transmission.

[4] Tafsir Al Qurtuby (7/411).

[5] Madarij As-Salikin (2/69).

[6] No. 2697 and Sahih Muslim No. 1718 with his own wordings.

[7] No. 4607 and At-Tirmidhy No. 2676, and he said: A good and authentic Hadith.

[8] No. 1 and Sahih Muslim No. 1907.

[9] Majmu` Al Fatawa 10/322.

[10] Sahih Muslim No. 2626.

[11] No. 3467 and Sahih Muslim No. 2245.

[12] No. 1914 and reported by Al Bukhari No. 2472 with the same.

[13] Fathul-Bary (11/321).

[14] Sahih Muslim No. 591.

[15] No. 6094 and Sahih Muslim No. 2607 with his own wordings.

[16] Sunan Abu Dawud No. 4986 and Al Albany graded it as authentic in Sahih Sunan Abu Dawud (3/941) No. 4171.

[17] Sunan An-Nasa'y No. 3939 and Al Albany graded it as authentic in Sahih Sunan An-Nasa'y No. (3/827) No. 3680.