Are all good deeds without divine intention worthless?

In the exalted and luminous teachings of the Holy Quran, the concept of intention (niyyah) and its profound importance in human actions holds a very high and fundamental position. Your question, "Are all good deeds without divine intention worthless?", leads us to delve into one of the most significant theological and ethical discussions in Islam. To answer this question, one must first define "worth" and "worthless" from a Quranic perspective. Does "worthless" merely imply the absence of reward in the afterlife, or does it also mean a lack of impact in worldly life? The Quran explicitly emphasizes the significance of intention and sincerity (ikhlas) in actions. The basis for the acceptance of deeds before Allah and their recompense in the Hereafter is not merely the outward form of the action, but its essence and inner reality, which is the intention of the doer. Intention constitutes the spirit and truth of every action. In Islam, every deed, whether acts of worship or daily transactions, if performed with the intention of drawing closer to Allah (qurbatan ilallah) and seeking His pleasure, takes on a devotional character and becomes eligible for infinite spiritual reward in the afterlife. However, if an action, though outwardly good, is performed without a divine intention and merely to gain people's attention (riya'), or for material and worldly benefits, it will be devoid of reward from the perspective of the Hereafter. Allah says in Surah Al-Bayyinah, verse 5: "And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincerely obedient to Him, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakat. And that is the correct religion." This verse clearly emphasizes the necessity of pure intention in worship and all aspects of religion. "Mukhlisin lahu al-deen" means those who perform their deeds solely for Allah, assigning no partners to Him in their intention. Furthermore, the Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 264, strongly prohibits showing off in charity: "O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury as does one who spends his wealth [only] to be seen by the people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His example is like that of a [smooth] stone upon which is dust and then a torrential rain falls upon it, leaving it bare. They are unable [to retain] anything of what they earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people." This verse clearly states that charity given for ostentation and showing off will have no reward in the Hereafter. It is like dust on a smooth stone that is washed away by rain, leaving no trace. This Quranic parable beautifully illustrates the worthlessness of an outwardly good deed performed without a divine intention. In Surah Al-Insan, verse 9, the characteristic of the righteous (al-abrar) is described: "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude." This verse demonstrates that the ultimate purity and perfection of intention is when an action is solely for the pleasure of Allah, with no expectation from creation or even from the individual performing the deed. Therefore, from a Quranic perspective, the true and spiritual value of good deeds, especially those intended to be weighed in the balance of divine justice and lead to eternal rewards and closeness to Allah, is entirely dependent on pure and divine intention. An action without divine intention, although it may have positive effects in this world (e.g., a patient recovers from financial aid or a community benefits from a development project), has no value in terms of earning spiritual reward and drawing closer to God. In other words, such deeds are not recorded in the divine ledger for the Hereafter and will not be an investment for eternity. This principle creates a subtle but crucial distinction between "worldly benefit" and "Hereafter value." A good deed, even if performed with a non-divine intention, may still yield material or social benefits for society or the individual. For instance, someone might establish a charity to leave behind a good name, or help people for popularity in an election. This charity can still save lives or assist the needy, and in this regard, it has its positive worldly impacts. However, the immense spiritual reward, which transcends any material compensation and is promised in the Hereafter to sincere believers, only applies to deeds performed purely and solely for the pleasure of the Lord. This concept also applies to non-Muslims. If a non-Muslim performs good deeds, such as helping the poor or inventing something beneficial for humanity, these actions may lead to positive outcomes in this world, even fame and respect. However, since their intention was not faith in God and seeking His pleasure, these deeds alone are not sufficient for their salvation in the Hereafter. In Islamic teachings, ultimate salvation and entry into Paradise are closely linked to belief in the Oneness of God and the prophethood of His Messenger (PBUH), followed by righteous deeds stemming from this faith and performed with sincere intention. Allah is just and does not waste any deed, and perhaps some good deeds of non-Muslims are rewarded in this world so that they have no argument in the Hereafter. However, complete reward and eternal salvation necessitate monotheism, faith, and pure intention. Therefore, the Quran asserts that righteous deeds bear eternal fruit only when sown with the seed of faith and divine intention, because divine intention transforms an action from a mere material movement into an act of worship and closeness to God. Based on this, it can be said that good deeds without divine intention can be examined from two perspectives: 1. **Worldly Perspective**: These actions may be beneficial and effective in this world and may even lead the person to their worldly goals (such as fame, power, wealth, or popularity). For example, someone who builds a hospital to gain fame benefits patients, and the person achieves renown. Or someone who produces a high-quality product for commercial competition benefits consumers, and the person gains material profit and reputation. In this case, the action is not "worthless" but has its worldly value and may receive its reward in this life, but this value and reward are limited to this world. 2. **Hereafter Perspective**: In terms of divine reward and acceptance in the afterlife, these deeds are considered worthless or of little value because the essential condition for the acceptance of a deed, namely pure intention for Allah, is absent. In reality, these actions are devoid of spiritual and eternal worth and will not weigh in the balance of good deeds. The Quran repeatedly mentions that on the Day of Judgment, deeds will be weighed according to their intentions, and those who performed their actions for other than God will find themselves empty-handed on that Day, even if they performed great deeds in this world. This principle encourages believers to constantly purify their intentions and perform all their actions, from the smallest daily matters like helping a neighbor or smiling, to the greatest acts of worship and charity like prayer, zakat, pilgrimage, and large donations, with the aim of drawing closer to and pleasing Allah. In this way, every moment of life becomes an opportunity to earn Allah's pleasure and store up for the Hereafter. The main message of the Quran is that the importance of intention is such that even the smallest action with a pure divine intention gains immense and eternal value, while the greatest actions without it become empty and invalid, like a mirage in the desert that a thirsty person mistakes for water. This is not merely a legal ruling but a spiritual and educational principle that guides humanity towards deeper self-knowledge, struggle against the lower self (nafs al-ammarah), and liberation from worldly attachments. The "why" and "for whom" of an action make a fundamental difference between a purely material act and an act with deep spiritual dimensions. This Quranic insight completely transforms the life of a believer, as every action, even breathing and sleeping, can become a valuable act of worship with pure intention. So, ultimately, yes, from the Quran's perspective, for gaining otherworldly reward and closeness to God, divine intention is an essential and vital condition, and without it, good deeds are considered worthless or of little value in terms of their spiritual and eternal worth.