سعيد

“Whoever has a feeling of self-importance is destroyed.”

he asked the Imam about the words of the Almighty that ‘whosoever is desirous of meeting his Creator, he should perform virtuous deeds and should not ascribe any partner to God in his worship,’ (18:110) seeking an explanation. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘A person who performs good deeds but not for the sake of being blessed with the vision of his God, his acts are aimed at being considered as pious by the people, and he wishes that people should know about his deeds; such a person is counted among polytheists, who have ascribed partners to God.’ The Imam (AS) continued: ‘There is none in the world, who has concealed his good deeds and after passage of time God has not revealed them. And there is none in the world who could conceal his wicked deeds for ever, for they were exposed by God before he passed away from the world.’

‘I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, “A servant who offered prayers [in this world] will be brought forward on the Day of Judgment, so he will say, ‘O Lord, I used to pray seeking Your pleasure.’ But he will be told, ‘Rather, you used to pray so that it would be said: how good his prayer is!’ – ‘Take him to the Fire!’ Another servant who fought in battle will be brought forward and he will say, ‘O Lord, I used to fight [the enemies] seeking Your pleasure.’ But he will be told, ‘Rather, you fought so that it would be said: how brave he is!’ – ‘Take him to the Fire!’ Yet another servant, who had learnt the Qurʾān, will be brought forward. He will say ‘O Lord, I learnt the Qurʾān seeking Your good pleasure.’ He will be told, ‘Rather, you learnt the Qurʾān so that it would be said: how good is his voice!’ – ‘Take him to the Fire!’ A servant who has spent his wealth in charity will also be brought forward, and he will say, ‘O Lord, I gave away my wealth seeking Your pleasure.’ He will be told, ‘Rather you gave charity so that it would be said: how generous he is!’ – ‘Take him to the Fire!’”