Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner, we would like to express our deep appreciation and great thanks to you for this apparent interest you show in understanding the teachings of Islam. Islam enlightens the minds and wards off all fake ideas from the human mind.
As regard the question, we would like to quote for you the following words of Sheikh Muhammad Mahmoud An-Najdy, a well-knowm Saudi scholar:
“Muslims are always encouraged to offer as many good deeds as they can. Satan, as always expected, will never let them feel the joy of this good deeds. Before offering the deed, Satan spares no pain in trying to weaken the Muslim’s morale so as to prevent him from doing such a deed by which one draws nearer to Almighty Allah. Having offered the good deed, a Muslim becomes subject to a new phase of Satanic whisperings and temptations. This occurs when Satan tries to put in his mind that he has done that deed out of love for people’s praise and in order to be known among them as a person of righteousness.
In this case, a Muslim should ward off all these whisperings and never lend an ear to Satan. Feeling joyous after offering a good deed is something natural. Almighty Allah says: “Say: In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy: therein let them rejoice. It is better than what they hoard.” (Yunus: 58) The verse signifies that when something good occurs and when guidance is attained, happiness and prosperity will consequently be achieved.
In this sense, our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “When you feel happy by offering a good deed and sad for committing an evil deed, then you are a true believer.” Also, when a person receives praise for a good deed he has offered, this is a form of glad tidings given to him. It is an evidence of Allah’s love for that person. Once, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about a man who offers a good deed which earns him people praise, he said: “This is the near glad tidings given to a believer.””
The eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi further adds:
“Abu Hurayrah reported that a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “What about a man who offers a good deed, in secret, and feels joy for offering it when he sees its effect on people?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) answered: “He will have double reward, one for the charitable deed done in secret and another for the good result of the deed.”
A truthful sincere person always accuses himself of being insincere and of being negligent. Such a truthful person never feels conceited nor haughty; rather, he always thinks of himself as still in need of more sincerity to have his deed accepted by his Lord. The place of Taqwa (piety and devotion) is the heart. It is for this that Almighty Allah said: “…it surely is from devotion of the hearts.” (Al-Hajj: 32)
`A’ishah, the mother of the faithful, once asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about those people who are referred to in the verse: “And those who give that which they give with hearts afraid because they are about to return unto their Lord.” (Al-Mu’minun: 60) He answered: “It refers to those people who perform prayer, fast and give charity and have genuine fear that this will not be accepted from them.” Then, he recited: “ These race for the good things, and they shall win them in the race.” (Al-Mu’minun: 61)”
Now, we have a word to say to you our dear brother, that since you try your best to attain sincerity, cast aside all these whisperings and enjoy receiving Allah’s reward both in this world and in the afterlife. We are always recommended to repeat the following Prophetic du`a’ (supplication): “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from associating with you things which I know and seek Your forgiveness for those things which I do not know.” May Allah accept our deeds and grant us sincerity! Ameen.
You can also read:
How to Attain Sincerity (Ikhlas)
