[Infiseeenvelp]

I was wondering if anyone had any dua's, tips, etc that would help people (such as myself) rectify my intentions (for performance of actions) e.g.

1. A person prays so that people may see him pray
2. A person grows a beard so that people think he is religious
3. A person gives to charity so people see his generosity

And so on. The above are just examples. All the intentions in the three examples above are wrong; in all the examples (and in fact, in all actions we make), the intention should be to do 'x' for the sake of Allah

So... how to rectify stuff like this?

[irrawnWab]

Bismillah Ir-Rehman Ir-Raheem

Assalam-Alaikum:

May Allah allow us to implement knowledge and conduct our actions so that it is a proof for us and not a proof against us.

Brother, may I give you glad tidings?

DIAGNOSIS

It is an extremely good sign that you worry about riya, because of the people who have the appearance of God's grace, many of them will fall to ruin because they were never given the taufeeq of fikr in the first place to be able to rectify themselves. Subhanallah, this is an extreme mercy of Allah to you, Brother, that you are reflecting on yourself and your actions. May Allah make us all of us self-aware.

O! my Brother, you are right to be concerned, however. Brother, how much do we hate shirk for the sake of Allah?

Brother, if we truly hate shirk, then, Brother we must realize that riya is hidden polytheism: If a man does what seems to be obedience to God but the aim is not to seek nearness to God but to create honor for him in the eyes of people, then he has become a hidden polytheist, Brother.

Brother, a hadith qudsi says to the effect that Allah has said, “I am the best partner and if anyone chooses a partner other than Me in his deed, I will not accept it and transfer it to My partner, for I will only accept those deeds which are devoted to Me (Muslim).”

PRESCRIPTION

Brother, Insha-Allah, the way to rectify this failing, Brother, is first and foremost to seek Allah's help and ask us to protect from riya, as no one succeeds in this or anything else except by will of Allah through prayer and patience. Brother, if at first we don't succeed, we must try again. If we fail, then we must try again. If we fail again, then we must yet try again. Yes, Brother, our failures are steps closer to success and thereby we must never give up. (Subhanllah, Brother, look at shaitaan: Shaitaan never gives up hope of dragging human beings to Hellfire, and he will come to us from the right, from the left, below, above, from the front and the back, for that goal. Brother, how much more should we then not give up hope, Brother, when we want to enter Allah’s Paradise?)

The Dua Against Riya:
الَّلهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ وأَنا أَعلَمُ
وأَستَغفِرُكَ لما لا أَعلَمُ

Allahumma inni a`udhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a`lamu wa
astaghfiruka lima la a`lamu

“O Allah I seek refuge in You from knowingly associating partners with
You, and I seek Your forgiveness for that which I do not know.”
(3 times in the morning and 3 times in the evening)

Source. REFLECTION

Brother, think about the people you know: On Judgment Day, how many of them will be willing to take their sins upon you? Nary a one.

Brother, more importantly, Subhanallah, if you really reflect on the nature of people, you will realize they are fickle, self-willed, and selfish. Brother, people are a recipe for ruin of the best of people, and they are not our friends. Our true friend must be Allah, for He never forsakes anyone who desires His friendship. He never leaves us alone, not even for a second, and He loves us, and His love is not the love of people who will change their attitudes like chameleons: If we do some good to someone, they will praise us. But if, for even one second, we slip and do some harm, even accidentally, they hate us. Their love is also selfish like them; their praise is harmful like them (and formed on incomplete information), and most of them are only friends to their nafs and shaitaan. That being said, Brother, all of the people's faults are nothing compared to how low we are that we should desire their temporary good opinion over Allah's eternal good opinion.

Brother, a hadith says, “Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah. If you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the whole world were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you. And if the whole world were to gather together to harm you, it would harm you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the ink has dried (Tirmidhi).”

O! my Brother, this means that people have no power, of either good or bad, over us, and Allah has All Power over us. So, Brother, doesn't it behoove us to place our expectations in Allah rather than people?

Also, Brother, the people who themselves are only creation of Allah, whether they accept or not, who cannot even benefit themselves, what will they benefit us?

So, Brother, “Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allah’s Reminder (Quran 57:16)?” Brother, has the time not come?

Brother, you are honored before Allah, and don't let shaitaan rob you of your honor by running after honor in those eyes that are blind. Brother, remember what you were thinking when you created the durood thread? Apply that sincerity of intention to other aspects in your life, and you will be similarly rewarded; you will not need to run after people's good opinions, as they will bestow that upon you whether you want that good opinion or not. (Brother, if you get the chance, also give charity, even if a few coins, with the intention that Allah helps you succeed in this endeavor.)

May Allah love you, me, and our Ummah and not disgrace us before Him.

If I have said anything that is good and true, it is from Allah, and anything other than that is my own mistake.

[salomal-qask]

Along with sister Anybody's beautiful answer, shall I suggest that before performing any particular action, say the Tasmiyah (Bismillah Ir-Rahman Ir-Raheem) and make it a habit.

Example:
Before opening the Qur'an to recite it: pause for a second a say the tasmiyah, while reflecting on those words, and saying even out loud "O Allah, I recite Qur'an for your sake only"

[perhilzit]

My question is somewhat related to the subject matter. May be some one can help.

When I start reciting the Quran if I make intention that the ' Sawab ' / rewards be given to my relatives living and dead ; all the Muslim and Muslimah specially to the Prophet and his Ahle byet and the Awliya and ambiya in genral.

I make it in my prayers before recitation .

One .... do you know of any beautiful dua I can do instead in Arabic ( with translation )

Two ... when doing any good act if you want to make the same intention , is just having the thought enough ?

[Zdfjpbth]

I was wondering if anyone had any dua's, tips, etc that would help people (such as myself) rectify my intentions (for performance of actions) e.g.

1. A person prays so that people may see him pray
2. A person grows a beard so that people think he is religious
3. A person gives to charity so people see his generosity

And so on. The above are just examples. All the intentions in the three examples above are wrong; in all the examples (and in fact, in all actions we make), the intention should be to do 'x' for the sake of Allah

So... how to rectify stuff like this?

Don't miss this thread: http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...-of-us-Muslims!

Here is the jpeg for the Dua:

086-194.gif

[Infiseeenvelp]

for all replies, very helpful