and in His words:
“And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while doing good?” 4:125
Allah accepts only deeds done sincerely for His sake and in conformity with His command. Anything else is rejected and returned to its doer; when he needs it most, he will find it scattered dust.
An authentic hadith reports that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Every deed that does not conform to our command is rejected.”
Any deed that does not follow his example only distances its doer further from Allah. Allah Most High is worshipped only according to His command, not according to personal opinions and desires.
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The second category: Those who possess neither sincerity nor conformity to the command. Their deeds neither accord with the revealed law nor are sincerely devoted to the One they worship. Such are the deeds of those who seek to impress people, showing off to them through practices that Allah and His Messenger have not prescribed. These are the worst of creation and the most detested by Allah, Mighty and Majestic. They have the greatest share in His words:
“Do not think that those who rejoice in what they have done and love to be praised for what they have not done—do not think they will escape the punishment. They will have a painful punishment.” 3:188
They rejoice in the religious innovation, misguidance, and association of partners with Allah that they practise, yet love to be praised for following the Sunnah and being sincere.
This category is common among those associated with learning, poverty, and worship who have deviated from the straight path. They engage in religious innovations, misguided practices, showing off, and seeking acclaim, yet love to be praised for adherence, sincerity, and knowledge that they have not demonstrated. Thus, they are among those who incur Allah’s wrath and go astray.
The third category: Those who are sincere in their deeds, but whose deeds do not conform to the command. These include ignorant worshippers and those affiliated with the path of asceticism and poverty. Everyone who worships Allah in a way He has not commanded, believing it to be a means of drawing near to Him, falls into this category. Examples include someone who thinks that listening to whistling and clapping is a means of drawing near to Allah; that seclusion in which he abandons Friday prayer and congregational prayer is a means of drawing near to Him; that continuing the day’s fast through the night is a means of drawing near to Him; or that fasting on the day when everyone else breaks the fast is a means of drawing near to Him—and other such practices.