Madina Archives

Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

trouble purifying intentions
Anonymous
06/30/01 at 22:26:23
assalamu alaykum, what should you do if you want to do something but you are not sure if your intentions are completely for the sake of Allah?   for example: 1- if you want to donate money, initially just to give sadaqa, but as you think about it, the thought of someone seeing you do this makes you feel good.  i think this is a form of riyaa. in this case is it better to not do the particular act? 2- if you want to help out with community events, initially because you know they need the help, but then you enjoy being part of the group and being seen. How should one go about purifying intention in such cases?  Is it better to refrain from the act until you are sure that it is completely for the sake of Allah? i could use some suggestions. jazakum allahu khair.

Re: trouble purifying intentions
jannah
06/30/01 at 23:09:42
wlm, excellent questions! i was listening to a tape recently where this topic was being discussed (Hamza Yusuf Purification of the Heart series).  the question was asked what if you go to do something ie  pray in the mosque but then you realize you are doing it for other people should you stop?  what was said was that many scholars say do it anyway even if you feel that there is some riyaa in it, because NOT doing it is a form of riyaa right then too right... cause you are then NOT doing it for the ppl....so comitting riyaa essentially. And at least doing it may help you purify yourself and work towards something good. BUT it was also said that if there are ways you can do things without showing it.. ie giving money anonymously or hidden then you should try to do that to protect yourself from any riyaa. as for your specific examples for situation 1 feeling good that others recognize/see you after you do something initially is another minor form of riyaa by some scholars. i would suggest that you give your sadaqa anonymously.. ie cash in an envelope dropped in the mosque donation box. for situation 2 find a way you can help others that is not in the spotlight and that should help you purify your intention. don't stop doing good things because you are worried about riyaa.. that is the sophistication of shaitan...incredibly clever mind games... find ways to do them that avoid the riyaa inshallah i hope that helps, w'allahu alam

Re: trouble purifying intentions
Asim
07/01/01 at 00:48:23
Assalaamu alaikum, Purification of intentions is a continuous battle that requires the whole process of tazkiyah al-nafs. Please check the [url=http://www.jannah.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=albany&action=display&num=3662]retreat reflections[/url] for some practical steps on how to purify oneself. Basically don't give up the good deeds 'coz that is the insinuation of shaytaan and strive to do the best. There are always low key approaches to doing good deeds. Analyze your actions to see how you could remove those elements of riyaa. Also, check the following: [url=http://www.jannah.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=masjid&action=display&num=3425]Notes on Ikhlaas[/url] http://jannah.org/articles/ for excerpts from the book purification of the soul. Reading about the righteous people also helps. Wasalaam.

Re: trouble purifying intentions
AbdulJalil
07/01/01 at 16:52:09
Assalamu Alaikum someone ask the same question to Sheikh M .S. Al-Munajjid about admiring oneself after doing a good deed.   Question: Sometimes a person finds himself filled with self-admiration or showing off after doing a good deed or act of worship, and he is scared that this will cancel out what he has done. What do you advise? Answer: Praise be to Allaah. If a person feels self admiration after doing something good or fears that he may show off, he should ward that off and resist it by seeking refuge with Allaah from it, and saying “Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a’lam, wa’staghfiruka lima laa a’lam (O Allaah, I seek refuge with you from knowingly associating anything with You, and I seek Your forgiveness for that of which I am unaware)” – as was reported from the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). These kind of feelings happen to everyone, but you have to try to be sincere towards Allaah, seek His forgiveness, and remember that there is no strength and no power except with Allaah; if it were not for the help of Allaah, you would not have been able to do this good deed, so to Allaah be praise in the beginning and at the end. The Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Mu’aadh ibn Jabal: “O Mu’aadh, by Allaah indeed I love you, and I advise you, O Mu’aadh, do not forget at the end of every prayer to say: Allaahumma a’inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ‘ibaaditika (O Allaah, help me to remember You, give thanks to You and worship You in the best way).” (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, al-Nasaa’i, and others; it is saheeh). Do not forego doing good deeds for fear of showing off, because this is one of the tricks that the Shaytaan uses to weaken people’s resolve and stop them from doing things that Allaah loves and is pleased with. As for merely feeling happy that one has done a good deed, this does not contradict sincerity and faith, for Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Say: “In the Bounty of Allâh, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islâm and the Qur’ân); —therein let them rejoice.” That is better than what (the wealth) they amass” [Yoonus 10:58] – meaning, if he attains guidance, faith and righteous deeds, and the mercy resulting from that overwhelms him and he feels joy and success as a result. Hence Allaah commanded us to rejoice over such things. The Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If your good deeds make you happy and your bad deeds make you sad, then you are a believer.” (Narrated by Ahmad, Ibn Majaah and others from the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah; it is a saheeh hadeeth). By the same token, if people praise you for your good deed, then this is a portion of the glad tidings of the Hereafter, which Allaah gives a person in this world. The Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked, “What do you think if a man does a good deed and the people praise him for it?” He said: “That is the portion of the glad tidings for the believer which he is given in this world.” (Narrated by Muslim from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him). So this praise is a sign that Allaah is pleased with him and loves him, so He makes him dear to other people. We ask Allaah to make our intentions and deeds right. Reference: Masaa’il wa Rasaa’il by Muhammad al-Mahmood al-Najdi, p. 21

Re: trouble purifying intentions
sarah
07/02/01 at 07:58:01
wa 'alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, that was very helpful. jazakum allahu khair.

Re: trouble purifying intentions
meraj
07/02/01 at 21:52:59
slm, welcome aboard sarah... give an intro in the bebzi stand! :) and enjoy your stay inshallah :) - the welcoming wagon ;-D
Individual posts do not necessarily reflect the views of Jannah.org, Islam, or all Muslims. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the poster and may not be used without consent of the author. The rest © Jannah.Org