Two Keys to Accepted Deeds- 267

Sincerity and adherence to the Sunnah ensure our deeds are accepted by Allah جل جلاله.

AuthorAuthor

Miftaah Portal & Shaykh Navaid Aziz
March 13, 2025

Est. Read time: 2 min
Edition Number: 267
Adapted from: Soulful Submission
Instructor: Shaykh Navaid Aziz

Assalamu Alaykum,

Today’s gem is from Shaykh Navaid Aziz’s course: Soulful Submission. In this gem, Shaykh Navaid Aziz explains that every action we perform should be both pure in intention and in line with the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ for it to be accepted by Allah ﷻ. 

Hope you enjoy!

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We begin in the Name of Allah ﷻ, the Most Merciful and Compassionate,
We ask that He ﷻ sends Peace and Blessings upon our noble and beloved
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

For deeds to be accepted in Islam, two essential conditions must be met:

  1. Compliance – The deed must align with the Shariah and the example of the Prophet ﷺ.

  2. Sincerity – The deed must be performed purely for the sake of Allah ﷻ, without any intention of seeking recognition or praise.

Ibn al-Qayyim references Surah Al-Mulk (67:2), where Allah ﷻ states that He created life and death to test who among us performs the best deeds. Scholars explain that "best deeds" (أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا) are those that are both sincere (أَخْلَصُ) and correct (أَسْوَبُ).

Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad explains:

  • Sincerity– The deed must be done solely for Allah.

  • Correctness – The deed must align with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.

Ibn al-Qayyim further supports this with the last verse of Surah Al-Kahf (18:110): “Whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.” This verse emphasizes sincerity (worshiping Allah ﷻ alone) and correctness (doing righteous deeds).

May Allah ﷻ grant us sincerity in our deeds and guide us to follow the path of the Prophet ﷺ in everything we do.

أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم، فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرحيم

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