Carrying out Good Deeds for Allah Ta’ala with Sincerity

عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال قال رجل يا رسول الله إني أقف الموقف أريد وجه الله وأريد أن يرى موطني فلم يرد عليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم حتى نزلت فمن كان يرجو لقاء ربه فليعمل عملا صالحا ولا يشرك بعبادة ربه أحدا (الكهف) – رواه الحاكم وقال صحيح على شرطيهما والبيهقي من طريقه ثم قال رواه عبدان عن ابن المبارك فأرسله لم يذكر فيه ابن عباس (الترغيب و الترهيب 1/75)

Hadhrat ibn Abbaas (Radhiallahu Anhuma) reports that on one occasion a man presented himself before Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and said: “O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), I stand to carry out a certain action, seeking the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and with the intention that people should also see my condition (i.e. in doing good deeds).” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not give him any reply, until the following verse was revealed: “Whosoever desires to meet his Lord (in the condition that Allah Ta’ala is pleased with him), then he should do righteous works and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.”