Steps Towards Happiness -The Blessings of Actions Lies in Sincerity

If a servant sincerely intends and performs a righteous deed, even if it is small, Allah accepts it and multiplies its reward. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "I have seen a man moving around in Paradise because of a tree he had cut from the middle of the road, which used to harm Muslims." In another narration, it is mentioned, "A man passed by a branch of a tree lying on the road, and he said, 'I swear by Allah, I will remove this so that it does not harm Muslims.' He was admitted to Paradise because of it." (Agreed upon)1

By his sincerity, along with the seemingly minor act, Allah admitted him to Paradise.

Consider the example of a sinful woman who had committed ugly deeds but then performed a small act that was insignificant in the eyes of people, which was giving water to a dog, not a human. Allah forgave her due to that small act of kindness, despite her past misdeeds. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There was a dog going around a well. Thirst had nearly killed him. A prostitute from Banu Israil saw it, so she took off her sock, and drew up some water and gave it to the thirsty dog to drink. Allah forgave her for that.” (Agreed upon)2The significance in Islam is not solely based on the abundance of actions. Rather, the true significance lies in the sincerity of intention and purpose, along with the abundance of actions that align with the Sunnah of the prophet, peace be upon him,. Allah has combined these aspects in His saying;

وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ ٥

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, 98:5)

The mentioned verse encompasses sincerity, establishing prayer, and giving zakah.

Performing actions, even if they are abundant, leads the doer to Hellfire if his belief is incorrect – and we seek refuge in Allah. Allah, glorified be He, says;

وَقَدِمْنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ مِنْ عَمَلٍۢ فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هَبَآءًۭ مَّنثُورًا ٢٣

“And We will regard what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed.” 

(Surah Al-Furqan, 25:23)

Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٢

Allah, glorified be He, says, [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving – “

(Surah Al-Mulk, 67:2)

He commented on the verse mentioned, " The best deed is the most sincere and correct." They asked, "O Abu 'Ali, what makes it sincere and correct?" He replied, "Verily, if an action is sincere but incorrect, it will not be accepted. And if an action is correct but not sincere, it will not be accepted. It is only accepted when it is both sincere and correct. Sincerity means it is for  Allah, and correctness means it is in accordance with the Sunnah."1

References"

1 Reported by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Injustices, under the chapter of taking a branch or anything harmful from the road and throwing it away, Hadith number (2472), and by Muslim in the Book of Righteousness, Maintaining Family Ties, and Manners, under the chapter of the merit of removing harm from the road, Hadith number (1914), from the narration of Abu Hurairah may Allah be pleased with him.

2 Reported by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Prophetic Narrations, under the chapter of the story of the cave, Hadith number (3467), and by Muslim in the Book of Peace, under the chapter of the merit of treating honorable animals kindly and feeding them, Hadith number (2245),

1 Majmoo' Fatawa Sheikh al-Islam (124/3)