Neglected Sunnah: Doing a good deed and still fearing it will not be accepted
Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah
Amma-ba'd
Concerning Allaah's statement:
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). (Al-Mu`minoon, ayah 60)
Imaam Ahmad recorded from 'Aa`ishah (radiAllaahu 'anha): I said: "Oh Messenger of Allaah. (Allaah's Statement) And those who give that which they give with their hearts full of fear... Are these the ones who steal and commit Zina and drink alcohol while fearing Allaah?" The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied: "No, oh daughter of Abu Bakr. Oh daughter of As-Siddeeq, the one who prays, fasts and gives in charity, fearing Allaah." [At-Tirmidhee]
Ibn Abee Hatim recorded something similar in which the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: "No, oh daughter of As-Siddeeq. They are the ones who pray and fast and give in charity while fearing that it will not be accepted from them. It is these who hasten in the good deeds." [Tafseer Ibn Katheer (Abridged), Tafseer of ayah 60 of Surat Al-Mu`minoon]
The Salaf worked diligently in perfecting their actions and making them faultless then - after that - they showed great concern for acceptance of their actions. They did this because they feared that their actions would be rejected. They are those who gave what was incumbent upon them while their hearts were in a state of fear. It is reported that 'Ali ibn Abee Taalib (radiAllaahu 'anhu) said:"Be more concerned that your actions are accepted than your concern of performing the action itself. Did you not hear the statement of Allaah:
Verily, Allaah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqeen (the pious). (Al-Maa`idah, ayah 27)
Fudalah (rahimahullaah) said: "For me to know that Allaah has accepted from me an action the size of a mustard seed is more beloved to me than this world and everything within it. This is because of the statement of Allaah:
Verily, Allaah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqeen (the pious). (Al-Maa`idah, ayah 27).
Malik bin Deenar (rahimahullaah) said: "Fear that an action is not accepted is more difficult than performing the action itself."
'Ataa as Sulamee (rahimahullaah) stated: "The pious fear that their righteous actions were not done sincerely for Allaah."
'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Abee Ruwaad (rahimahullaah) said: "I have met people very diligent in performing actions, and upon completion of those actions they are faced with sadness - in fear of the action being accepted or not."
Some Salaf (rahimahumullaah) used to say: "The people of the past would supplicate six months to Allaah to allow them to reach the month of Ramaadan, and then upon completion of the month,they would again supplicate six months (begging) for acceptance of their fast."
Some of the Salaf would display sadness on the day of 'Eed. It was said to them: "This is a day of happiness and joy!" They would respond: "You have spoken the truth, but I am a servant, my Lord has ordered me to perform an action but I am not sure if He will accept it from me or not."
Wahb (rahimahullaah) noticed people laughing on the day of 'Eed. Upon seeing this, he stated: "If their fast was accepted, then know that this is not the action of those who are grateful. And if it was not accepted, then this is not the action of those who are afraid."
Hasan al-Basree (rahimahullaah) stated: "Indeed Allaah has made Ramaadan a means of gain for His creation. (Within this month,) they race to gain His pleasure through obedience to Him. Some individuals will gain (win), while others will remain back and lose. It is amazing to see a person playing and laughing on a day that the good doers will be rewarded, and the wrong doers will be defeated." [From Ibn Rajab's Book Lata`if Al-Ma'aarif ]
Don't Be Sure That Your Actions Are Accepted, by Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq Ibn 'Abdil-Muhsin al-Badr (hafidhahummaAllaah 'ala as-Sunnah)
The noble Shaykh 'Abdur Razzaaq Ibn 'Abdil-Muhsin al-Badr stated:
"It is befitting that we make note that the Muslim has no way of being sure that his actions are accepted no matter how well or good he has done in performing the action. Allaah has mentioned, clarifying the state and affair of the complete believers during the performance of actions by which they seek nearness to Allaah from the acts of obedience: And those who give that which they give with their hearts full of fear because they are sure they are to return to their Lord.(Al-Mu`minoon, ayah 60)
This means that they give from themselves that which they are commanded with from the acts of worship from Salaah, Zakaah, Hajj, Siyaam (Fasting) and other than that. They are in fear that their actions will not save them or that their acts of worship will not be accepted when their actions are being presented to Allaah and they have to stand in front of Allaah.
Imaam Ahmad mentioned in his Musnad on the authority of The Mother of The Believers 'Aa`ishah (radiAllaahu 'anha) stated:
I said: 'Oh Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Allaah has said: And those who give that which they give with their hearts full of fear because they are sure they are to return to their Lord. (Al-Mu`minoon, ayah 60) Is it the man who commits Zinaa (fornication/adultery) and consumes intoxicants?' He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'No oh daughter of Abee Bakr. No oh daughter of as-Siddeeq. However he is the man who fasts, prays and gives charity and yet he fears that it won't be accepted from him.'" [Taken from Duroos 'Aqeedah Mustafaadah Min Hajj, by Shaykh 'Abdur Razzaaq Ibn 'Abdil-Muhsin al-Badr (may Allaah preserve them both upon the Sunnah), pg. 114]
