the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.” Shufayy related this hadith to Muʿāwiya, who said, “This is what was done to these men—what, then, of everyone else?” He wept until we thought he would die. Then he recovered, wiped his face, and said, “Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth:
“‘Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments, We will repay them fully for their deeds therein, and they will not be deprived. Those are the ones…’ [Hūd: 15–16],” continuing the verse.
It is related that Mujāhid said concerning Allah Most High’s words, “Those who plot evil deeds will suffer a severe punishment, and their plotting will come to nothing” [Fātir: 10], that this refers to showing off.
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This warning—and Allah knows best—applies only to those whose deeds are motivated from the outset by showing off and seeking a reputation. As for someone whose deeds are originally for Allah Most High, and who has firmly resolved upon that intention, passing thoughts that enter his heart without taking hold of it will not harm him, Allah willing.
Mālik and Rabīʿa were asked about a man who likes to be seen on his way to the mosque but dislikes being seen on his way to wrongdoing. Rabīʿa disapproved of this, whereas Mālik said, “If the deed was initially and fundamentally for Allah Most High, there is nothing wrong with that, Allah Most High willing.” Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
“I bestowed upon you love from Me” [Tā Hā: 39].
And He says:
“Grant me an honourable reputation among later generations” [al-Shuʿarāʾ: 84].
ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb said to his son, “For you to have said it would have been dearer to me than such-and-such.” His son had told him that it had occurred to him that the tree which the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had likened to a Muslim was the date palm. The Prophet had asked his Companions about it, but their thoughts had turned to desert trees.
He said: How is this any different from that? It is simply something that arises in the heart and cannot be controlled. This is merely Satan’s way of preventing a person from acting. Whoever experiences this should not grow slack in continuing to do good, nor let it cause him to despair of reward. He should ward off Satan as best he can and renew his intention for that deed. It is related that one of the early scholars said, “We sought knowledge for other than Allah, but it brought us back to Allah.”
A report from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also supports Mālik’s view. It appears in the Jāmiʿ section of al-Mustakhraja