Dought and Clear, - Will a woman be rewarded for her work in the home even if she does not intend to seek reward?.

If a woman works in herhouse without intending to seek reward for her
work with Allaah, will she be rewarded for her work or not?.
Praise be to Allaah.
A woman's work in the home is important work in which she helps to
spread love and mercy inher home, and she plays a major role in
raising her children and helps her husband in his work,da'wah and
pursuit of knowledge.
In this regard, this work is like all other kinds of work: a woman
will not be rewarded for it unless her intention in doing it is
sincerely for the sake of Allaah alone.
There follow some texts which support this view,as well as some of the
comments of the scholars.
1 – al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) included inKitaab
al-Eemaan(the Book of Faith) a chapter in whichhe listed shar'i
duties, which included seeking reward for doing them.
Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
"Chapter: what was narrated about actions being but by intentions, and
every person will have but that which he intended. This includes
faith, wudoo', prayer, zakaah, Hajj, fasting and other rulings. Allaah
says(interpretation of the meaning):"Each one does according to
Shakilatihi (i.e. his way or his religion or his intentions)"
[al-Isra' 17:84]. A man may seek the reward of charity forhis spending
on his family. And the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "But jihad and good intentions."
Saheeh al-Bukhaari(1/29), Kitaab al-Eemaan.
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The words "Chapter: what has been narrated…" mean: a chapter which
explains what has been narrated as evidence that shar'i actions are
judged according to intention.
Fath al-Baari(1/135, 136)
2 – It was narrated that Abu Mas'ood al-Badri (may Allaah be pleased
with him) said: The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "If a Muslim spends on his family, seeking reward for that with
Allaah, thenit will an act of charity on his part." Narrated
byal-Bukhaari (55), Muslim (1002).
Spending on his wife and children is a man's shar'i duty, but he will
not be rewarded for it unless he seeks reward thereby.
Al-Qurtubi said:
The apparent meaning isthat the reward for spending on them can only
be attained by intending to draw closerto Allaah, whether it is
obligatory or permissible, and this implies that whoever does not
intend to draw closer to Allaah will not be rewarded, but he has
discharged his duty in the case of obligatory spending.
Fath al-Baari(1/136)
Ibn Hajar said:
It may be understood from this that the reward cannot be attained by
doing the deed unless it is also accompanied by the intention.
Al-Tabari said: spending on one's family is obligatory, and he will be
rewarded for what he gives according to hisintention. There is no
contradiction between its being obligatory and its being called
charity, rather it is better than voluntary charity.
Fath al-Baari(9/498)
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Seeking reward thereby means seeking the Countenance of Allaah
thereby. That does not include whatever he spends absent-mindedly
(i.e., heedless of the intention and without intending to seek reward
thereby). Rather this refers to the one who seeks reward. The way to
seek reward is to spend it with the intention of fulfilling theduty of
spending and kind treatment that has been enjoined upon him.
Sharh Muslim(7/88, 89).
3 – It was narrated from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqaas (may Allaah be pleased
with him) that the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: "You will never spend anything, seeking thereby the
Countenance of Allaah, but you will be rewarded for it, even what you
put in your wife's mouth." Narrated by al-Bukhaari (56) and Muslim
(1628).
Ibn al-Haaj al-Maaliki (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
He should not neglect to give his wife a morsel or two, because the
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "even a
morsel that he puts in his wife's mouth." He will earn reward even
though there is some pleasure for him in putting a morsel in his
wife's mouth, but he should seek reward in allof that, i.e., in
bringing the food and in giving it to her.
Al-Madkhal (1/224).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
You will never spend anything, seeking thereby the reward of Allaah,
but you will be rewarded for it. The attainment of reward is dependent
upon that, i.e., on seeking the Countenance of Allaah. This is what
matters.
Fath al-Baari(5/367).
Conclusion:
A woman will be rewarded for her work in the house if she seeks reward
with Allaah for that, and is sincere in her intention.
And Allaah knows best.

Dought and Clear, - Does a good intention intercede for one?.

Does a good intention intercede for one? Or are there other considerations with regard that?.
Praise be to Allaah.
No act of worship will be accepted from a Muslim unless it meets two basic conditions:
1 – Sincerity of intentiontowards Allaah, may He be exalted. This means that the aims of the person in his words and deeds, both outward and inward, should be to seek the Countenance of Allaah alone.
2 – It should be in accordance with the ways in which Allaah hasordained that He be worshipped only. That is achieved by following the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and what he taught, and shunning anything that goes against that, and not introducing any new acts or forms of worship that have not been narrated in proven reports from him(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
The evidence for these two conditions is the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
" So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord"
[al-Kahf 18:110]
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
"So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord" – means His reward
"let him work righteousness" – means, that is in accordance with the laws of Allaah.
"and associate none as apartner in the worship of his Lord" – means the deed by which is sought the Countenance of Allaah alone, with no partner or associate. These are the two features of the deed thatis acceptable: it must be sincerely for the sake of Allaah alone, and it must be in accordance with the sharee'ah of the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Endquote.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/108
Hence Allaah says in the greatest soorah in the Qur'aan (interpretation):
" You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)"
[al-Faatihah 1:5], to indicate that Tawheed and sincerity are essential in order for a deed to be valid.
The second condition comes immediately afterthat:
"Guide us to the StraightWay"
[al-Faatihah 1:6]
No act of worship is valid unless it is in accordance with the right way, the straight path, which Allaah has enjoined, by following His Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Inal-Saheehit is narrated from 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever does anyaction that is not in accordance with this matter of ours will have it rejected." Narrated by Muslim, 1718. i.e., his deed will be thrown back at him and not accepted from him. If anyone goes against these two conditions (sincerity towards Allaahalone and following His laws) in any action, then he will not benefit from it. The one who seeks goodness and wants to please his Lord, let him worship Him and draw near to Him by the means that He has ordained. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism,follow the Qur'aan and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful"
[Aal 'Imraan 3:31]
So it is not sufficient to have a good intention, and it will not intercede for him if he goes against sharee'ah and worships Allaah by means of any kind of bid'ah (innovation). Many of those who invent innovations – because of their ignorance – invent theseinnovations in order to draw closer to Allaah.
Hence when Ibn Mas'ood(may Allaah be pleased with him) denounced those who gathered to remember Allaah (dhikr),they gave the excuse that their intention was good and that they did not mean anything but good, and he said to them: "How many of those who intend good do not attain it!" Narrated by al-Daarimi, 204. So it is not sufficientto have a good intentionin order to do good and attain the reward and draw closer to Allaah. Rather it is essential to also act in accordance with sharee'ah and avoid bid'ah.
A good intention may intercede for a person intwo cases:
1 – Turning habits into acts of worship
A good intention may turn a habit into an act of worship for which a person will be rewarded. So by eating and drinking he may intend to strengthen himself to obey Allaah, and by getting married he may intend to keep himself and his wife chaste, and so on.
2 – Earning reward without doing any deed,if the Muslim is definite in his intention.
A Muslim may form a definite intention to do acts that are prescribed in sharee'ah, then something prevents him from doing that – but hewill still be rewarded forit. There are a number ofahaadeeth concerning that, such as the following:
1 – It was narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: We were with the Propheton a campaign and he said: "You did not travel any distance or cross any valley but inMadeenah there are men who were with you, but they were kept behind by sickness." According to another version: "… but they shared the reward with you." Narrated by Muslim, 1911.
2 – It was narrated from Abu'l-Darda' (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophetsaid:"Whoever goes to his bedintending to get up and pray at night, then his eyes overwhelm him and(he sleeps) until morning, the (reward for) that which he intended will be written for him, and his sleep is a charity for him given by his Lord, may He be glorified and exalted." Narrated by al-Nasaa'i, 1787; Ibn Maajah, 1344; classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani inSaheeh al-Targheeb, 601.
3 – It was narrated from Sahl ibn Haneef that the Prophetsaid: "Whoever sincerely asks Allaah for martyrdom will attain the status of the martyrs even if he dies in his bed." Narrated by Muslim, 1909.
And there are many other such reports, all of which indicate that whoever forms a sincere, definite intention to do good or obey Allaah, then is prevented from doing that deed, Allaah will decree the reward for him.
So this is the case where a sincere intention will intercede for a person until he is rewarded for it.

2 God in Islam: Does God Exist? God and Logic, God and Commonsense, Proof of God

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair and his beard cut as
always. He started to have a good conversation with the barber who
attended him. They talked about somany things on various subjects.
Suddenly, they touched the subject of God. The barber said: "Look man,
I don't believe that God exists as you say so."
"Why do you say that?" Asked the client
Well, it's so easy; you just have to go out in the street to realize
that God does not exist. Oh, tell me, if God existed, wouldthere be so
many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed,
there would be neither suffering nor pain. "I can't think of a God who
permits all of these things." The client stopped for a moment thinking
but he didn't want to respond so as to prevent an argument.
The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just
afterhe left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with a long
hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his
cut and he looked so untidy). Then the client again entered the
barbershop and he said to the barber: know what? Barbers do not exist.
"How come they don't exist?" asked the barber."Well I am here and I am
a barber."
"No!" - The client exclaimed. "They don't exist because if they did
there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who
walks in the street."
"Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" - Affirmed the client. "That's the point. God does exist,
what happens is people don't go to Him and do not look for Him that's
why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

1 God in Islam: Does God Exist? God and Logic, God and Commonsense, Proof of God

It is a well known incident of Baghdad. A person arrived there whowas
a non-believer in God. He had no proof of his belief nor was he
willing to listen to any argument regarding the existence of God. He
said that the universe came into existence by itself and continues to
exist. Any argument based on Noble Qur'an and Hadith too wouldn't
convince him. People went to the extent of telling him that there must
be someone who created the universeand runs it. He boasted saying that
the entire citywas unable to convince him about the existence of Allah
(SWT).
The Vizier of Baghdad asked Sheikh Mufeed to handle the situation. The
vizier said that the person was visiting the court everyday and he
posed his question to thegathering in the presence of the ambassadors
from the non-Muslim countries. The inability to give him a convincing
reply was causing a lot of embarrassment.
Sheikh Mufeed thus agreed to attend the court for a debate with the
non-believing person. The person was very cunning that he wouldn't
utter any word when arguments about the existence of Allah (SWT) were
advanced to him.
Sheikh Mufeed attended the court and told to the person, "You have
claimed that you have contested the claim of all the courtiers about
the existence of Allah (SWT) and that they were unable to convince
you. Allah (SWT) willing, I shallcome tomorrow and givea convincing
reply to your question! But you must report at the court promptly at
the appointed time. I am wondering if you will absent yourself fearing
to face my debate on the subject!"
The non-believing man replied with lot of confidence, "There is no
chance of my running away from the debate. Infact, I have the fear
that you might try to escape since none of your compatriots has been
able to convince me and you may meet the same fate!"
The appointed time arrived the next day but there wasn't any sign of
Sheikh Mufeed in the court. Since Sheikh Mufeed had ridiculed the
person by saying that he might try to elude the debate by absconding
from the court, the man looked around the court and smiled
sarcastically. All the courtiers felt belittled that the Sheikh Mufeed
had made tall claims but had absented himself from the proceedings.
The Sheikh Mufeed purposely arrived at the court very late. When he
arrived in front of the non-believing man, he asked, "Where were you
hiding yourself?!"
The Sheikh Mufeed replied, "I would have reached the court on
schedule, but as I reached the riverside, I saw a peculiar scene
there. It was so astonishing that my feet wouldn't advance towards my
destination! Isaw a boat in the river that was floating on the water
without any sailor.It was coming ashore on one side, picking up
passengers and disembarking them on the other side. From that side it
picked up passengers and dropped them on this side! When Isaw the boat
had no sailor I was very astonished!"
The non-believing man had a hearty laugh and said, "How is it that the
boat was making the up and down trips without any sailor?"
The Sheikh Mufeed now said, "When you think that a small boat cannot
fend for itself without someone to row it, then how do you imaging
thatsuch a big universe will function without the Onewho controls it!"
The non-believing man said that none else had debated with him in this
manner! I now bear witness that there is no god but Allah (SWT)!