Why do I sometimes doubt my good deeds?

The feeling of doubt regarding the good deeds we perform is a common human experience and can be examined from various perspectives, especially from the teachings of the Holy Quran. This doubt sometimes signals humility and a quest for greater sincerity, but at other times, it can be a temptation from Satan, intended to deter a person from the path of goodness or to lead them to despair and hopelessness. The Quran provides comprehensive guidance for understanding this phenomenon and how to deal with it, helping us to look at our actions with deeper insight and strengthen our connection with God. Let’s explore this topic through several key axes to better understand the roots of this doubt and the ways to overcome it. 1. The Importance of Ikhlas (Sincerity) and Pure Intention: One of the most significant reasons that can lead to doubt in good deeds is the issue of sincerity. In Islam, the value and acceptance of an action depend more on the quality and purity of the doer's intention than on its outward appearance or quantity. The Holy Quran repeatedly emphasizes the importance of sincerity. If our purpose in performing a good deed is to gain the attention of others (riya'), achieve status, or earn people's praise, rather than God's pleasure, such an action will naturally be hollow internally and can lead to doubt about its acceptance by the Lord. This doubt is, in fact, a warning to examine our inner intention and strive to purify it. Whenever a person feels that their intention might have impurities, they naturally become doubtful about the value and outcome of their action. The Quran explicitly states that humans were not commanded except to worship God purely and sincerely. This means that all our actions, from worship to helping others and observing rights, must be solely for the sake of earning divine pleasure. If our intention is pure, even if others do not notice our deeds or praise us, our heart will be at peace because we know that the primary Observer is God, and He is aware of our hidden intentions. This awareness itself brings a deep tranquility and prevents doubts about the purity of actions. 2. The Whispers of Satan (Shaytan and the Instillation of Doubt): Satan is a sworn enemy of humanity, and one of his primary goals is to dishearten believers and prevent them from doing good. He uses every opportunity to instill temptation, doubt, and pessimism. When a person performs a good deed, Satan might approach their mind and whisper temptations such as: 'Did you really do this for God?' or 'Your deed wasn’t good enough!', 'You showed off!', 'God will not accept it from you!'. These whispers are made with the aim of weakening faith and creating despair and hopelessness in the person. The Holy Quran, in Surah An-Nas, clearly refers to these 'khannas' (the sly whisperer) who whisper into the breasts of mankind. Recognizing this destructive force and being aware of its tactics is the first step in combating it. When we know the source of this doubt, we can repel these whispers by seeking refuge in God and remembering Him. We must remember that God is far too merciful to disregard our sincere actions, no matter how small. Therefore, some of these doubts originate not from a deficiency in our actions, but from Satan's ploys to discourage us. 3. Lack of Spiritual Self-Confidence and Insufficient Understanding of Divine Mercy: Sometimes, doubting good deeds stems from a lack of spiritual self-confidence; a feeling that one is unworthy of having good deeds accepted or that their actions are insufficient. This feeling can be rooted in an individual’s past, their mistakes, or an overly perfectionist view of themselves. However, in the Holy Quran, God introduces Himself as 'Arham-ur-Rahimin' (the Most Merciful of those who show mercy) and promises to accept repentance and reward good deeds. A person who sees themselves as insignificant before the greatness of God might, out of humility, consider their actions small. This humility, if it does not lead to despair, is highly commendable and encourages one to constantly strive for improvement and closer proximity to God. But if this sense of humility turns into despair and doubt, it must be dispelled by recalling God's vast mercy and hoping for His grace. The acceptance of deeds is solely in God's hands, and our duty is to do our best and then entrust the outcome to Him. In Surah Al-Mu'minun, God mentions those who, despite performing good deeds, their hearts tremble in fear of returning to their Lord. This trembling is not out of despair, but out of reverence and humility before divine majesty, and it is itself a sign of strong faith and a striving for greater sincerity. This type of 'doubt' is constructive and leads a person towards improvement and more earnest supplication. 4. Balance Between Fear and Hope (Khawf and Raja'): One of the essential principles in faith is maintaining a balance between 'khawf' (fear of divine punishment and non-acceptance of deeds) and 'raja'' (hope in divine mercy and forgiveness). If fear dominates, a person may fall into despair and doubt. If hope dominates, they might become complacent and negligent. The best state is to maintain balance. Doubts about good deeds can arise from the dominance of fear. In such cases, one should pay attention to the hopeful verses of the Quran that emphasize the vastness of divine mercy, the forgiveness of sins, and the multiplied reward for good deeds. God says in the Quran that whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it and receive its reward. This means that even the smallest sincere actions do not go unnoticed by God and are rewarded. Therefore, it is appropriate to perform good deeds with the best intention, relying on God, and then entrust the outcome to Him. Conclusion: Doubting good deeds, if it leads to self-awareness and a quest for greater sincerity, can be a positive sign. However, if this doubt originates from Satan's whispers and leads to despair and hopelessness, it must be immediately repelled by relying on God, remembering Him, and seeking refuge in His vast mercy. The key to solving this problem is focusing on intention, sincerity in action, understanding divine mercy, and repelling satanic whispers. Through continuous self-monitoring of intentions and perseverance in good deeds with reliance on God, one can achieve peace of heart and be assured that God is the best Rewarder of sincere actions. Let us remember that we are responsible for the action, and its acceptance or non-acceptance is solely in God's hands. So, let us strive with all our might and entrust the outcome to Him.