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Fatwa CenterGood deeds without valid intention
Question
In the name of Allaah. Assalaamu alaykum. Sometimes we do good deeds but the intention is not for the sake of Allaah (and the hereafter) but is associated with wordly interests and benefit; like being polite to seniors and colleagues at work and greeting them with the Salaam. (If we do not do that, they will think bad about us). Is this Shirk (polytheism)?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The acts that should be devoted purely for the sake of Allaah alone and of which it is not permissible to intend them for other than Allaah are the pure acts of worship that have been legislated only to glorify Allaah and to earn His pleasure, such as the prayer, fasting, Thikr (expressions of remembrance of Allaah), and the like.
As regards the acts that are primarily done for getting a livelihood and other worldly benefits and which may become an act of worship depending on the intention of the doer, such as keeping good company with others and being generous to guests, and so on, then a person who does these actions without a good intention is not sinful, but one can be rewarded for them only if he had done them with a good intention.
Al-Khaadimi said in Bareeqah Mahmoodiyyah, “Know that showing off with a worldly action, such as bravery, skillfulness in writing, sewing, and other matters, that is done for achieving a worldly benefit is not forbidden if it is free from luring, such as showing courage in a given matter while the person does not really have courage. As regards showing off in acts of worship that are legislated to glorify Allaah and seeking His pleasure, then this is forbidden in all its kinds.” [Abridged]
Therefore, being polite with seniors and colleagues at work without a valid intention does not incur sin on the person because it is not among the pure acts of worship that one must only devote to Allaah; the reward for being polite to people, however, is not earned except by having a good intention.
Allaah knows best.
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