تفويض
15-08-2011, 03:22 AM
السلام عليكم
For quite some time now I have been thinking over this and it is something which has confused me a great deal. It is all based on the "Actions based upon Intentions" principal which I was pondering over, which got way out of hand as I spent time thinking about it.
My issue is regarding the fact that when we do a good deed, what should our intention be, and are the intentions that we actually have acceptable or not.
I realise that needs explaining. Our whole purpose of existence is to glorify and worship Allah SWT and nothing else. We should strive to attain Ihsaan where every thing we do we do for him, our business, feeding and clothing ourselves, relieving our selves etc. All the mundane activities we do are actually means by which we can worship Allah SWT in addition to the traditional Salaah and Zhikr we may do.
But, when we try to make these mundane acts acts of worship, do we truly do them for that? For example, if I need to relieve myself, I would do it regardless of whether I thought about Allah or not. Or if I needed to feed myself. By saying a quick du'aa, does that automatically make it an act of worship, even though I would have done it anyway? I sought of resolved this one in my head, but I would like other peoples thoughts on this first point to see if they resolved this like I did.
Moving onto the second bit which I couldn't resolve and so am looking forward more to answers in these next following points. Building on the previous paragraph, what about acts which we want to do really for our own enjoyment. Superficially we may say we are doing it for Allah, but deep down we know that we are doing it really for our own pleasure, such as making love, eating and anything else we derive pleasure from. If really we were doing this for our own pleasure, then surely doing a du'aa beforehand (before sex, or eating for eg) shouldnt really count?
Building once again from that paragraph to my third (and final) point regarding intentions.
The 'ibadaat that we do, I think I would be correct to say that most of us do 'ibadaath for two main reasons, fear of Allah's wrath (being placed in Hell) and hope of Allah's mercy (being placed into Jannah). This to me seems very selfish, that man only does things for himself (just like in the last paragraph, but I think this deserves to be a separate point to address as this is for traditional acts of worship as opposed to normal activities we try to make acts of worship), and not truly for the love of Allah as we are supposed to do.
While I was thinking about this I realised that I was such a person, who only worships Allah for the want of Jannah and the safety from Jahannam, I don't do it because I love Allah, but rather for my own selfish desires. I find that everytime I hear about the rewards of a particular deed, I do that deed more, but then I think I am not doing it for Allah and out of my love for him, but rather for my own desires.
For example, I used to send durood on the Prophet SAW, purely because I heard about some of his stories and thought wow, no wonder we send durood. That went on for a few weeks, but then, I read on Sunni Forums a particular thread listing the benefits of sending durood, such as being raised 10 degrees in Jannah etc etc, the list was very long. I subsequently started to read more duroods, and everytime I read durood I would forget the meaning, and just think about me being raised 10 degrees in Jannah. The man and his amazing stories were quickly forgotten and the only thing I would think about is my own benefit.
One more example just to make sure people understand. I used to do sajdah because it was said man is not closer to Allah in any position than he is when in Sajdah. So I used to do it for Allah's sake in the hope that I would be closer to Him. But then in a Jummah Khutbah I heard that in Sajdah, one sin is erased, one good deed is gained, and one degree in jannah is attained (not sure on that last one, i was too busy thinking about the first two). So from then I forgot about trying to get close to Allah, and would keep thinking about the benefits when I did Sujood. I have found this to be the case with much acts of worship I do, and in my mind it doesnt quite cut it.
I think Allah has mentioned this in a Hadeeth Qudsi where he says: All acts of worship my slave does for himself, but fasting is for Me. (paraphrased). Although Im not qualified to interpret Hadeeth, the first thing I thought of when I heard this is even Allah is saying deep down we just worship for our own desires, but fasting is the one thing we do for Allah alone. I would like maybe some explanation of this Hadeeth since even when I fast I do it because of the reward and for nothing else.
I cant see why we should be rewarded for purely selfish acts, when the real reasons are forgotten. Compare this to the Sahaabah or the Tabi'een and other pious scholars, whose reason for worship was purely love of Allah. To paraphrase 'Ali RA, If I saw the gates of Jannah before me it would not increase my Imaan. Though to be honest that could be interpreted in other ways but here are two more. I cannot remember who it was who said: "Even if there was no Jannah, I would still worship my Lord purely in awe of His Majesty." And the last comes from a famous woman in the time Hasan Al-Basri RH (I forget her name but I know of her through Sunni Forums) who made a poem which to paraphrase again said: Oh my Lord if I do any act of worship for the love of Jannah, then throw me into the depths of Hell.
I could go on but I think I've written for long enough and in sufficient detail for people to understand what is going through my mind. I just have a few closing remarks.
Trying to have a bit of foresight by thinking ahead of possible comments, I would like to give some facts in anticipation of some responses:
1. This all happened in Ramadhan, so I've been free from Shaythaan's waswasa, I thought of this purely on my self, while in Taraweeh in fact.
2. In the beginning week of Ramadhan I was at the height of Ibadaat that I've ever been in my life. I was praying Salaah 5 times which I havent done in years, not to mention each one (bar Fajr) was offered in the Masjid. I would spend my time travelling to and from the Masjid each time in zhikr, and would read 2 Juz of Quraan per day and spend the rest of my time listening to Tafseer and doing the necessities. So almost all I did was worship for that week, so I had sufficient time to build up my faith and love for Allah and reduce my selfish desires. But as I gradually found out the rewards to some of the things I was doing and when having this discussion with myself while in Taraweeh, it all went down the drain such that I don't even pray my Salaah anymore because I think my intentions are impure.
4. I would appreciate comments, but I know the only way I will be free of this doubt is if there is some proof from the Quraan or Sunnah regarding what I have mentioned. What I mean is, for this major block to be removed I need some really compelling evidence where what I have mentioned is addressed with answers from Ahadeeth or Quraan which may deal with this issue, or if not, then maybe something from famous scholars like the 4 Imaams or Ibn Taymiyyah or a very reputable source which may deal with this.
My final final comment, as an interesting aside. There is one act of ibaabah in this whole world which I can truly say I do for my love for it and Allah, the only only one which even when I didnt pray and would commit major sins regularly yet I never abandoned since I fell in love with it is trying to understand Arabic in order to understand Quraan. Even when I would do major sins regularly, and when my imaan was at an all time low, for the past year I have not stopped my quest to understand Arabic which has led me to join Shariah Program last week. I am hoping, that if no-one can convince me in this thread, that at least, in 2 years time when I complete the Shariah program and can understand the Quraan and the tafseers written on it, that my love for it will grow so much that all my other acts of worship stem from it and then I can be sure that my intentions are correct. At least, that's what I'm banking on to happen anyway. But even if it succeeds, I dont want to wait for a year or two missing Salah etc until I reach that point.
This is something I feel really strongly about because my worship has gone from an all time high to an all time low and ive gone back to sinning regularly again in the month of Ramadhaan. I shiver to think what I will be like when Shaytaan is back with me as an intimate friend again, although I think the stage Im at shaytaan will just relax and watch me mess up on my own, I have no need of him the path Im on.
For quite some time now I have been thinking over this and it is something which has confused me a great deal. It is all based on the "Actions based upon Intentions" principal which I was pondering over, which got way out of hand as I spent time thinking about it.
My issue is regarding the fact that when we do a good deed, what should our intention be, and are the intentions that we actually have acceptable or not.
I realise that needs explaining. Our whole purpose of existence is to glorify and worship Allah SWT and nothing else. We should strive to attain Ihsaan where every thing we do we do for him, our business, feeding and clothing ourselves, relieving our selves etc. All the mundane activities we do are actually means by which we can worship Allah SWT in addition to the traditional Salaah and Zhikr we may do.
But, when we try to make these mundane acts acts of worship, do we truly do them for that? For example, if I need to relieve myself, I would do it regardless of whether I thought about Allah or not. Or if I needed to feed myself. By saying a quick du'aa, does that automatically make it an act of worship, even though I would have done it anyway? I sought of resolved this one in my head, but I would like other peoples thoughts on this first point to see if they resolved this like I did.
Moving onto the second bit which I couldn't resolve and so am looking forward more to answers in these next following points. Building on the previous paragraph, what about acts which we want to do really for our own enjoyment. Superficially we may say we are doing it for Allah, but deep down we know that we are doing it really for our own pleasure, such as making love, eating and anything else we derive pleasure from. If really we were doing this for our own pleasure, then surely doing a du'aa beforehand (before sex, or eating for eg) shouldnt really count?
Building once again from that paragraph to my third (and final) point regarding intentions.
The 'ibadaat that we do, I think I would be correct to say that most of us do 'ibadaath for two main reasons, fear of Allah's wrath (being placed in Hell) and hope of Allah's mercy (being placed into Jannah). This to me seems very selfish, that man only does things for himself (just like in the last paragraph, but I think this deserves to be a separate point to address as this is for traditional acts of worship as opposed to normal activities we try to make acts of worship), and not truly for the love of Allah as we are supposed to do.
While I was thinking about this I realised that I was such a person, who only worships Allah for the want of Jannah and the safety from Jahannam, I don't do it because I love Allah, but rather for my own selfish desires. I find that everytime I hear about the rewards of a particular deed, I do that deed more, but then I think I am not doing it for Allah and out of my love for him, but rather for my own desires.
For example, I used to send durood on the Prophet SAW, purely because I heard about some of his stories and thought wow, no wonder we send durood. That went on for a few weeks, but then, I read on Sunni Forums a particular thread listing the benefits of sending durood, such as being raised 10 degrees in Jannah etc etc, the list was very long. I subsequently started to read more duroods, and everytime I read durood I would forget the meaning, and just think about me being raised 10 degrees in Jannah. The man and his amazing stories were quickly forgotten and the only thing I would think about is my own benefit.
One more example just to make sure people understand. I used to do sajdah because it was said man is not closer to Allah in any position than he is when in Sajdah. So I used to do it for Allah's sake in the hope that I would be closer to Him. But then in a Jummah Khutbah I heard that in Sajdah, one sin is erased, one good deed is gained, and one degree in jannah is attained (not sure on that last one, i was too busy thinking about the first two). So from then I forgot about trying to get close to Allah, and would keep thinking about the benefits when I did Sujood. I have found this to be the case with much acts of worship I do, and in my mind it doesnt quite cut it.
I think Allah has mentioned this in a Hadeeth Qudsi where he says: All acts of worship my slave does for himself, but fasting is for Me. (paraphrased). Although Im not qualified to interpret Hadeeth, the first thing I thought of when I heard this is even Allah is saying deep down we just worship for our own desires, but fasting is the one thing we do for Allah alone. I would like maybe some explanation of this Hadeeth since even when I fast I do it because of the reward and for nothing else.
I cant see why we should be rewarded for purely selfish acts, when the real reasons are forgotten. Compare this to the Sahaabah or the Tabi'een and other pious scholars, whose reason for worship was purely love of Allah. To paraphrase 'Ali RA, If I saw the gates of Jannah before me it would not increase my Imaan. Though to be honest that could be interpreted in other ways but here are two more. I cannot remember who it was who said: "Even if there was no Jannah, I would still worship my Lord purely in awe of His Majesty." And the last comes from a famous woman in the time Hasan Al-Basri RH (I forget her name but I know of her through Sunni Forums) who made a poem which to paraphrase again said: Oh my Lord if I do any act of worship for the love of Jannah, then throw me into the depths of Hell.
I could go on but I think I've written for long enough and in sufficient detail for people to understand what is going through my mind. I just have a few closing remarks.
Trying to have a bit of foresight by thinking ahead of possible comments, I would like to give some facts in anticipation of some responses:
1. This all happened in Ramadhan, so I've been free from Shaythaan's waswasa, I thought of this purely on my self, while in Taraweeh in fact.
2. In the beginning week of Ramadhan I was at the height of Ibadaat that I've ever been in my life. I was praying Salaah 5 times which I havent done in years, not to mention each one (bar Fajr) was offered in the Masjid. I would spend my time travelling to and from the Masjid each time in zhikr, and would read 2 Juz of Quraan per day and spend the rest of my time listening to Tafseer and doing the necessities. So almost all I did was worship for that week, so I had sufficient time to build up my faith and love for Allah and reduce my selfish desires. But as I gradually found out the rewards to some of the things I was doing and when having this discussion with myself while in Taraweeh, it all went down the drain such that I don't even pray my Salaah anymore because I think my intentions are impure.
4. I would appreciate comments, but I know the only way I will be free of this doubt is if there is some proof from the Quraan or Sunnah regarding what I have mentioned. What I mean is, for this major block to be removed I need some really compelling evidence where what I have mentioned is addressed with answers from Ahadeeth or Quraan which may deal with this issue, or if not, then maybe something from famous scholars like the 4 Imaams or Ibn Taymiyyah or a very reputable source which may deal with this.
My final final comment, as an interesting aside. There is one act of ibaabah in this whole world which I can truly say I do for my love for it and Allah, the only only one which even when I didnt pray and would commit major sins regularly yet I never abandoned since I fell in love with it is trying to understand Arabic in order to understand Quraan. Even when I would do major sins regularly, and when my imaan was at an all time low, for the past year I have not stopped my quest to understand Arabic which has led me to join Shariah Program last week. I am hoping, that if no-one can convince me in this thread, that at least, in 2 years time when I complete the Shariah program and can understand the Quraan and the tafseers written on it, that my love for it will grow so much that all my other acts of worship stem from it and then I can be sure that my intentions are correct. At least, that's what I'm banking on to happen anyway. But even if it succeeds, I dont want to wait for a year or two missing Salah etc until I reach that point.
This is something I feel really strongly about because my worship has gone from an all time high to an all time low and ive gone back to sinning regularly again in the month of Ramadhaan. I shiver to think what I will be like when Shaytaan is back with me as an intimate friend again, although I think the stage Im at shaytaan will just relax and watch me mess up on my own, I have no need of him the path Im on.