When our acts are not accepted by Allah: Focusing on the quality of acts over quantity.

A group of people who did so much yet gained nothing

In Surah Ghashiyah, Allah mentions:

عَامِلَةٌۭ نَّاصِبَةٌۭ

“totally overburdened, exhausted.” (Verse 3)

This verse paints an unfortunate picture of a group of zealous worshippers who exerted all their energy in worshipping their Lord. However, when confronted with the reality of their deeds, they found that all their acts had been in vain.

The reasons to inacceptable deeds

All of us desire to have our deeds accepted by Allah SWT. Surely, Allah SWT is merciful and will do His most to accept the deeds of His servants. However, there are many illnesses of the heart that can prevent this.

The first step to having our deeds accepted is to understand that ibadah is holistic and not limited to acts of worship alone. While acts of worship are essential in attaining Paradise, they should not be the only focus of a person’s life in this world.

Disbelief is the biggest nullifier to acceptance

No matter how good, kind, or noble a person may be, it will not benefit them if they reject the core pillars of Tawhid (the Oneness of Allah). The highest form of disbelief is kufr, while one of its gravest forms is shirk attributing divine power or qualities to others besides Allah. Disbelief can also include practices such as sihr (sorcery) and introducing into the religion matters that have not been accepted or sanctioned by Allah and His Messenger.

He mentions about this very group of people:

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ

“That is because they detest what Allah has revealed, so He has rendered their deeds void.”

(Surah Muhammad Verse 9)

Thinking highly of yourself will nullify your deeds

In Islamic theology, thinking too highly of yourself—through ‘ujb (self-conceit) and kibr (pride and arrogance) can destroy the value of your good deeds. Pride destroys those deeds from within by removing their sincerity. A person may perform many acts of worship and kindness, but if arrogance fills the heart, those deeds can become worthless in the sight of Allah and a cause of loss in the Hereafter.

The Trait of Satan

The trait of the self-conceit of the Satan was mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Araf Verse 12:

قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍۢ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍۢ

Allah asked, “What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?” He replied, “I am better than he is: You created me from fire and him from clay.”

Oppressing others will nullify your deeds

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,

“Do you know who is the bankrupt?” They said: “The bankrupt among us is one who has neither money with him nor any property”. He said, “The real bankrupt of my Ummah would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with Salat, Saum and Sadaqah (charity), (but he will find himself bankrupt on that day as he will have exhausted the good deeds) because he reviled others, brought calumny against others, unlawfully devoured the wealth of others, shed the blood of others and beat others; so his good deeds would be credited to the account of those (who suffered at his hand). If his good deeds fall short to clear the account, their sins would be entered in his account and he would be thrown in the (Hell) Fire”.

Bringing up your acts for others will nullify your deeds

This trait is known as al-mann. It refers to repeatedly bringing up, boasting about, or reminding others of past favours in a way that humiliates the recipient. A person may possess many good deeds, but if they fall into the habit of al-mann, they place those deeds in great danger and risk facing serious consequences in the Hereafter.

Allah warns the people who do al-mann and likens them to a rock in Al-Baqarah Ayah 264:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُبْطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَـٰتِكُم بِٱلْمَنِّ وَٱلْأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۖ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌۭ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلٌۭ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلْدًۭا ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ

“O believers! Do not waste your charity with reminders of your generosity or hurtful words, like those who donate their wealth just to show off and do not believe in Allah or the Last Day. Their example is that of a hard barren rock covered with a thin layer of soil hit by a strong rain—leaving it just a bare stone. Such people are unable to preserve the reward of their charity. Allah does not guide such disbelieving people.”