Only Concerned With Allah’s Pleasure not His Reward: Do I Need to Repent?
Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: The motive of my worship after getting back to Islam is more about getting closer to Allah and attaining His Pleasure rather than avoiding Hell or going to Paradise. In fact I don’t pay any attention to any kind of reward or punishment while worshiping Allah, I am only trying to make Him Happy with me. Do I need to repent for holding these views?
Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
No, you do not need to repent from focusing on Allah.
However, learn your personally obligatory knowledge (fard `ayn) and apply it in your life. If you don’t have knowledge, how will you know what Allah wants from you and what He wants you to desist from?
“Say, ‘If you love God, follow me, and God will love you and forgive you your sins; God is most forgiving, most merciful.’ Say, ‘Obey God and the Messenger,’ but if they turn away, [know that] God does not love those who ignore [His commands].” [3.31-32]
Tantawi comments in his commentary of this verse, “every person who claims to love Allah yet doesn’t perform that which he has been commanded to do, and abstain from that which he has been commanded to abstain from, is making false claims.” [Tantawi, Tafsir al-Wasit]
Consider taking: Absolute Essentials of Islam: Beliefs & Worship (STEP) and: Fiqh of Life: Essentials of Halal and Haram
See also: Love for Allah – Translation of Ishq-e-Ilahi – Written by Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad and: Prophetic Supplication for Allah’s Love – and the Means to It
And Allah alone gives success.
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.
