Is helping others sometimes selfish?

In the rich and profound teachings of the Holy Quran, the act of helping others and showing kindness to creation holds an exceptionally high status. The Quran encourages believers to engage in goodness, cooperation, and generosity, considering it among the signs of true faith and a path to drawing closer to Allah. However, the question posed is quite insightful: Can helping others, despite its seemingly good appearance, sometimes conceal an underlying selfishness? The Quran's answer to this question, both explicitly and implicitly, revolves around the concepts of 'intention' (niyyah) and 'sincerity' (ikhlas). Fundamentally, in Islam, every action, from acts of worship to social interactions, is judged by its intention. If the underlying intention behind helping others is to gain fame, people's praise, to boast, or merely to feel superior and satisfy one's ego, without prioritizing divine pleasure, then that act loses its true value in the sight of Allah and can be considered a form of 'hidden selfishness.' The Holy Quran explicitly forbids ostentation (riya) and showing off in giving charity and helping others. In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 264, Allah says: "O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders [of it] or [other] injury, like 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 rock on which is dust, and heavy rain falls upon it and leaves it bare. They are unable to acquire anything of what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people." This verse clearly indicates that charity given for the purpose of showing off, though seemingly helpful, is devoid of spiritual reward in the hereafter. It is likened to a rock that is cleaned of all its dust by heavy rain, leaving nothing behind. This type of help, from a Quranic perspective, not only yields no reward but also indicates a deficiency in faith and intention, essentially being a spiritual form of selfishness where the individual seeks human admiration and credit instead of divine pleasure. Conversely, the Quran praises those who, in their acts of helping others, seek nothing but divine pleasure and reward. In Surah Al-Insan, verses 8 and 9, describing the righteous (al-abrar), Allah states: "And they give food, in spite of love for it, to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [Saying], 'We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.'" These verses establish the primary criterion: 'li-wajh Allah,' meaning 'only for the countenance/pleasure of Allah.' When helping is done with such an intention, it can no longer be deemed selfish. Rather, this type of help represents the pinnacle of altruism and self-sacrifice, where an individual transcends personal desires to attain the Creator's pleasure. Furthermore, it is important to note that the good feeling and inner satisfaction one experiences after helping others are not necessarily indicators of selfishness. This feeling is a reward that Allah has placed for good deeds, serving as a natural motivation for continuing virtuous acts. If this feeling is not the primary objective of helping, but rather a byproduct and a reward from Allah, then there is no fault in it. In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 272, the Quran declares: "And whatever good you spend is for yourselves, and you do not spend except seeking the countenance of Allah. And whatever you spend of good – it will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged." This verse illustrates that any charity given for Allah's sake ultimately benefits the individual, both in this world and the hereafter. This 'benefit' is inherent in the good deed itself and does not make it selfish; rather, it is a promised reward from Allah for sincere action. Selfishness arises when the primary goal is to acquire this personal benefit (whether material, fame, or a feeling of superiority), rather than the pleasure of the Creator. Therefore, from a Quranic perspective, helping others can only harbor an element of hidden selfishness when its primary intention is something other than seeking divine pleasure. This occurs when an individual seeks praise, fame, to boast, or any worldly or even ego-driven benefit that falls outside the framework of Allah's pleasure. However, if the intention is pure and the sole aim is to attain Allah's pleasure, then even if inner satisfaction and peace are subsequently achieved, this is not selfishness. Instead, it is a divine reward and grace bestowed upon the sincere servant. Ultimately, the Quran emphasizes the heart and intention behind deeds, not merely their outward appearance. A good deed without a pure intention is like a lifeless body that lacks true value. Thus, for our acts of helping to be truly altruistic and divine, we must constantly review and purify our intentions before Almighty Allah.