How to discern God's pleasure in my actions?

Understanding whether an action or decision is pleasing to God is one of the deepest and most significant concerns for believers. The Holy Quran, as a guide for life, sets forth principles that allow us to achieve this understanding. This path is an inner journey that begins with pure intention and continues with a continuous effort to align oneself with divine commands. The first and most fundamental principle is **sincere intention and piety (Taqwa)**. Any action performed for the sake of God and with a pure intention carries within it the essence of divine pleasure. Allah says in the Quran: “And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.” (Surah Al-Bayyinah, verse 5). This verse clearly states that humans were not commanded except to worship Allah with sincerity in religion. Taqwa, which means God-consciousness and adherence to divine limits, is the criterion for evaluating our actions. If we feel God’s presence and supervision in performing an act, and we abstain from forbidden things, then this act is on the path of His pleasure. Taqwa is a state in which an individual lives as if they see Allah, and if they do not see Him, they know that He sees them. This sense of presence purifies intentions and makes actions sincere. The purer our intention and the closer it is to divine pleasure, the greater the likelihood of God’s satisfaction with that action. A small deed with a great intention is superior to a great deed with a small intention. The second principle is **justice (Adl) and excellence/goodness (Ihsaan)**. Allah strongly commands justice and good conduct in the Quran. “Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that you may take heed.” (Surah An-Nahl, verse 90). This verse provides a comprehensive criterion for evaluating our actions. Any action that involves justice, goodness, and helping relatives is pleasing to Allah. Conversely, actions that lead to immorality, evil, and oppression are certainly far from divine pleasure. Therefore, to assess God's pleasure in a task, we must see if this task wrongs anyone? Does it infringe upon rights? Does it bring goodness and benefit to society or an individual? Any action that contributes to establishing justice in society, whether at an individual or social level, and also entails beneficence and kindness to others, is a step towards gaining divine pleasure. This includes our behavior towards family, neighbors, colleagues, and even strangers. Does this action help the poor? Does it assist the oppressed? Does it lead to peace and reconciliation? The third criterion is the **compliance of the action with Islamic law (Sharia) and its non-contradiction with divine limits**. Allah has specified what is lawful (halal) and unlawful (haram) for us in the Quran. Any action that falls within the permissible (halal) and avoids the forbidden (haram) can be pleasing to God. “O you who have believed, eat from the good things with which We have provided you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 172). If the action we intend to perform is among major or minor sins, or in any way infringes upon the rights of others, even if we have good intentions, it cannot lead to God’s pleasure. For example, earning a lawful living is an obligation, but if this earning is through usury, theft, or deception, it is never pleasing to Allah, even if the person’s ultimate intention is to help their family. Adhering to divine boundaries in all aspects of life, including business, social relations, and even recreation, is a sign of moving on the path of divine pleasure. A fourth way is **reliance on God (Tawakkul) and seeking His help through patience and prayer**. In times of doubt and difficult choices, seeking guidance from Allah through Istikhara prayer (although Istikhara itself is not directly mentioned in the Quran, the principle of reliance on God and seeking His help is inherent in it) and sincere supplication is very effective. “O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 153). Patience in the face of difficulties and steadfastness on the path of truth, and seeking help through prayer as the pillar of religion, are ways through which Allah has promised His companionship. This companionship means guiding a person to the correct path, which itself brings a kind of divine pleasure. When a person takes a step relying on God and entrusts the outcome to Him, they have essentially declared their heartfelt acceptance of divine decree, which can also be a sign of pleasure. A fifth indicator is **inner peace and spiritual insight**. Although this is not a definite and foolproof criterion and may not be the same for everyone, actions that are pleasing to God often bring a sense of tranquility, assurance, and inner satisfaction. Conversely, actions that incur divine wrath may cause anxiety, worry, and inner turmoil. This inner insight is strengthened by piety and self-purification. “Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (Surah Ar-Ra'd, verse 28). The remembrance of Allah brings peace to hearts. When an action is performed with the remembrance of God and for His sake, this inner peace manifests as an internal reward. Ultimately, discerning God's pleasure in an action is a continuous process of reflection, prayer, consultation (with knowledgeable and experienced individuals), and reviewing one's actions. We should always ask ourselves: Does this action help me or others get closer to God? Does this action promote divine values? By adhering to these Quranic principles and with a trusting heart, we can take firmer steps on the path of divine pleasure and hope that Allah will encompass us with His guidance and pleasure.