Acts become ineffective when intentions are not pure and worldly attachments dominate them.
The Holy Quran contains several verses that point to why some acts of worship may be ineffective. One primary reason that can lead to the ineffectiveness of worship is the intent and purity of the action. In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 264, Allah says: 'O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury, as one who spends his wealth to be seen by men.' This verse reminds us that if a person's heart is not sincere in performing worship, that act may be rendered ineffective. The intention behind every act of worship should be solely for Allah, and if one becomes afflicted with hypocrisy and self-promotion, their worship will ultimately lead to nowhere. Also, in Surah Al-Mu’minun, verse 60, Allah states: 'And those who have denied Our signs - they are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.' This verse indicates that lack of faith and proper belief in Allah and His signs also leads to the ineffectiveness of worship. Furthermore, worldly attachments can obstruct the very worship that needs to be solely for Allah. Therefore, for acts of worship to be impactful, a person must engage in acts with a sincere intention and genuine faith and belief in Allah while also distancing themselves from worldly attachments.
O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury, like the one who spends his wealth to be seen by men.
And those who have denied Our signs - they are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
On a rainy day, Aref went to a small mosque to pray. He noticed that some people were engaged in worship superficially but their hearts were disconnected from God. He recalled a verse from the Quran that emphasizes the importance of intention. After prayer, he shared with them that if their intentions weren’t pure, they wouldn’t benefit from their acts of worship. His words ignited a spark of hope in their hearts and they began discussing faith and spirituality.