Allah, the Almighty, has shown the path to success in this world and the Hereafter through faith and righteous deeds, but there are also some dangerous matters that nullify a person’s good deeds and ruin all their actions. A true believer is one who not only performs good deeds but also protects them and avoids everything that is harmful to their faith and deeds.
The subject under consideration mentions those very matters that nullify righteous deeds, so that we may avoid them and keep our deeds safe.
➊ Denying the Verses of Allah or the Day of Judgment
Whoever denies the verses of Allah or rejects the Day of Judgment, all their righteous deeds become worthless in the sight of Allah, no matter how great they may appear outwardly.
Allah, the Almighty, says:
﴿ قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالًا الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا أُولٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَائِهِ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا ﴾
Translation:
“Say: Shall We inform you of those who are the greatest losers in their deeds? It is those whose efforts in the life of this world have gone astray, while they thought that they were doing well. These are the ones who denied the signs of their Lord and the meeting with Him, so their deeds became worthless, and on the Day of Resurrection We will not assign to them any weight.”
Similarly, Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَلِقَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴾
Translation:
“And those who denied Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter – their deeds have become worthless, and We will not assign to them on the Day of Resurrection any weight.”
From these verses, it is clear that denying Allah’s signs or the Hereafter completely nullifies good deeds.
➋ Apostasy from Islam
Islam is the only religion accepted by Allah Almighty; no other religion is accepted by Him.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ الْإِسْلَامُ ﴾
Translation:
“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam alone.”
And He said:
﴿ وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ ﴾
Translation:
“And whoever desires other than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.”
A person who abandons Islam is called an apostate. Apostasy can take many forms:
❀ Saying blasphemous words with the tongue
❀ Committing acts of polytheism
❀ Adopting false beliefs
❀ Or doubting the fundamental beliefs of the religion
As soon as a person becomes an apostate, all their previous good deeds are destroyed.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَمَنْ يَرْتَدِدْ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُولٰئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ﴾
Translation:
“And whoever among you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever – for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.”
However, if the apostate sincerely repents before death and accepts Islam again, their deeds are preserved.
➌ Associating partners with Allah in worship
Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the greatest sin and the most severe injustice. Whoever falls into shirk, all of his righteous deeds are destroyed.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُوا لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴾
Translation:
“And if they had associated others with Allah, then all their deeds would have been in vain.”
Similarly, Allah Almighty addressed the Holy Prophet ﷺ and said:
﴿ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ ﴾
Translation:
“And if you were to associate others with Allah, your deeds would surely become worthless, and you would be among the losers.”
This is actually a severe warning for the Ummah that shirk completely destroys good deeds.
➍ Disbelieving in Allah Almighty
Whoever denies Allah Almighty, no matter how many great welfare, social, or charitable deeds he performs, those deeds have no value in the sight of Allah until he brings true faith.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ اشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ لَا يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا عَلَى شَيْءٍ ۚ ذٰلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلَالُ الْبَعِيدُ ﴾
Translation:
“Those who disbelieved in their Lord, their deeds are like ashes which the wind blows forcefully on a stormy day. They will have no power over anything they have done. That is the extreme misguidance.”
Just as strong wind scatters ashes and leaves no trace of them, similarly, the deeds of disbelievers will be weightless and insignificant on the Day of Judgment.
➎ Disliking any command of the Holy Quran
Disliking the Holy Quran or any of its commands from the heart also causes the righteous deeds to be wasted. Some people dislike the limits and punishments prescribed by Allah, such as:
❀ The punishment of cutting off the hand of a thief
❀ Retribution (Qisas) for a murderer
❀ The hadd punishment for an adulterer
❀ The command of hijab for women
Allah Almighty says about such an attitude:
﴿ ذٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ ﴾
Translation:
“This is because they disliked what Allah revealed, so He rendered their deeds worthless.”
That is, apparently good deeds, such as maintaining family ties or serving pilgrims, were all ruined due to dislike.
➏ Following paths that anger Allah and disliking His pleasure
Whoever engages in actions that anger Allah, and dislikes Allah’s pleasure, even objects to His decree, then Allah destroys his deeds.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ ذٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ اتَّبَعُوا مَا أَسْخَطَ اللّٰهَ وَكَرِهُوا رِضْوَانَهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ ﴾
Translation:
“That is because they followed what angered Allah and disliked His pleasure, so Allah has nullified their deeds.”
➐ Doctrinal hypocrisy
Doctrinal hypocrisy is when a person outwardly remains Muslim but hides disbelief in his heart, secretly befriends disbelievers, and only maintains superficial relations with Muslims. Such hypocrisy ruins all of a person’s deeds.
Allah Almighty says about hypocrites:
﴿ فَتَرَى الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ يُسَارِعُونَ فِيهِمْ يَقُولُونَ نَخْشَىٰ أَنْ تُصِيبَنَا دَائِرَةٌ ﴾
Translation:
“You will see that those whose hearts are diseased run about among them, saying, ‘We fear lest we be caught in some calamity.'”
Then Allah Almighty said:
﴿ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا خَاسِرِينَ ﴾
Translation:
“Their deeds have become worthless, and they have become losers.”
Similarly, describing the behavior of the hypocrites during the Battle of the Trench, He said:
﴿ أُولٰئِكَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا فَأَحْبَطَ اللّٰهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ ﴾
Translation:
“These are the ones who did not believe, so Allah has rendered their deeds worthless.”
➑ Opposing the Messenger ﷺ after guidance has become clear
A true believer never deliberately opposes the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. But the one whose heart contains disbelief opposes the Prophet ﷺ even after guidance has become clear, and Allah Almighty renders the deeds of such a person worthless.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللّٰهِ وَشَاقُّوا الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْهُدَىٰ لَنْ يَضُرُّوا اللّٰهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيُحْبِطُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ ﴾
Translation:
“Those who disbelieve, hinder from the way of Allah, and oppose the Messenger ﷺ after guidance has become clear, cannot harm Allah in any way, and Allah will render their deeds worthless.”
➒ Disrespect Towards the Holy Prophet ﷺ
One very dangerous cause of the loss of good deeds is disrespect and insolence towards the Holy Prophet ﷺ. Allah Almighty has made it obligatory for Muslims to honor, respect, and show reverence to the Noble Prophet ﷺ, and has strictly forbidden disrespect towards him ﷺ.
For this reason, the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were prohibited from speaking loudly in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ and from calling him by name like ordinary people.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ لَا تَجْعَلُوا دُعَاءَ الرَّسُولِ بَيْنَكُمْ كَدُعَاءِ بَعْضِكُمْ بَعْضًا ﴾
Translation:
“Do not call the Messenger ﷺ in the same way you call each other.”
And He said:
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا لَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَنْ تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ ﴾
Translation:
“O you who have believed! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet ﷺ, nor speak loudly to him as you speak loudly to one another, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not.”
This verse is clear evidence that disrespect towards the Noble Prophet ﷺ can ruin a person’s deeds even without their awareness.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللّٰهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا ﴾
Translation:
“Indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bringer of good tidings, and a warner, so that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger, support them, honor them, and glorify Allah morning and evening.”
➓ Hypocrisy
Actions in which the intention is not pure but done to show off to people, to hear praise, or for worldly gain, are wasted in the sight of Allah.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمُ الشِّرْكُ الْأَصْغَرُ ))
“Indeed, the thing I fear most for you is minor shirk.”
The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, asked: What is minor shirk?
He ﷺ said:
(( الرِّيَاءُ ))
Translation:
“I fear minor shirk for you the most.”
“And minor shirk is showing off (riya).”
And He said that on the Day of Judgment Allah Almighty will say to the show-offs:
(( اذْهَبُوا إِلَى الَّذِينَ كُنْتُمْ تُرَاؤُونَ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَانْظُرُوا هَلْ تَجِدُونَ عِنْدَهُمْ جَزَاءً ))
Translation:
“Go to those for whom you showed off in the world, and see if they give you any reward.”
Similarly, a person asked that if someone performs jihad with the intention of gaining both reward and fame, then what will be his reward?
You ﷺ said three times:
(( لَا شَيْءَ ))
“He will get nothing.”
Then He said:
(( إِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَقْبَلُ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ إِلَّا مَا كَانَ خَالِصًا وَابْتُغِيَ بِهِ وَجْهُهُ ))
Translation:
“Allah Almighty accepts only that deed which is done purely for Him and His pleasure is the objective.”
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَالْأَذَىٰ كَالَّذِي يُنْفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ ﴾
Translation:
“O you who believe! Do not waste your charity by reminders of generosity and injury, like the one who spends his wealth to be seen by people.”
⓫ Committing Prohibitions in Seclusion
Committing things forbidden by Allah in privacy, away from people’s eyes, also leads to the destruction of good deeds.
Hazrat Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لَأَعْلَمَنَّ أَقْوَامًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَأْتُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِحَسَنَاتٍ أَمْثَالِ جِبَالِ تِهَامَةَ بَيْضًا فَيَجْعَلُهَا اللّٰهُ هَبَاءً مَنْثُورًا ))
“I will surely recognize some people from my Ummah on the Day of Resurrection who will come with white (bright) good deeds equal to the mountains of Tihamah, but Allah will turn them into flying dust.”
The Companions said: O Messenger of Allah! Please clarify this for us.
You ﷺ said:
(( هُمْ إِخْوَانُكُمْ… وَلَكِنَّهُمْ إِذَا خَلَوْا بِمَحَارِمِ اللّٰهِ انْتَهَكُوهَا ))
Translation:
“They will be your brothers, they will also pray at night, but when alone, if forbidden things of Allah come before them, they will not avoid them.”
⓬ Deliberately abandoning Asr prayer
Deliberately abandoning Asr prayer causes the loss of righteous deeds.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ ﴾
Translation:
“Guard strictly the prayers, especially the middle prayer.”
(The middle prayer refers to Asr prayer)
And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلَاةَ الْعَصْرِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ ))
Translation:
“Whoever abandons Asr prayer, his deeds are wasted.”
⑬ Going to astrologers and soothsayers
Going to astrologers, soothsayers, and those who claim to know the unseen, and asking them about your problems or future causes the loss of righteous deeds.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ أَتَىٰ عَرَّافًا فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ لَمْ تُقْبَلْ لَهُ صَلَاةُ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ))
Translation:
“Whoever goes to an astrologer or soothsayer and asks about something, his prayers for forty nights will not be accepted.”
And He said:
(( مَنْ أَتَىٰ عَرَّافًا أَوْ كَاهِنًا فَصَدَّقَهُ بِمَا يَقُولُ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ ))
Translation:
“Whoever goes to an astrologer or soothsayer and confirms his words, he has denied the religion revealed to Muhammad ﷺ.”
⑭ Swearing by Allah that such and such a person will not be forgiven by Allah
Allah Almighty is Most Forgiving and Merciful and accepts the repentance of His servants. Losing hope in His mercy or swearing that He will not forgive a certain person is an extremely dangerous matter that can lead to the destruction of good deeds.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللّٰهِ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴾
Translation:
“Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Hazrat Jundub رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“A person said: By Allah! Allah will never forgive so-and-so. Then Allah Almighty said:
(( مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَتَأَلَّىٰ عَلَيَّ أَنْ لَا أَغْفِرَ لِفُلَانٍ؟ ))
‘Who is it that swears by Me saying that I will never forgive so-and-so?’
Then He said:
(( فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لِفُلَانٍ وَأَحْبَطْتُ عَمَلَكَ ))
Translation:
‘Who is it that swears by Me saying that I will never forgive so-and-so? I have forgiven so-and-so and nullified your deeds.’
⑮ Violating the Rights of Allah’s Servants (Rights of the Servants)
The most serious and dangerous cause of the loss of good deeds is usurping the rights of Allah’s servants, oppressing them, and not seeking their forgiveness in this world.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْمُفْلِسُ؟ ))
“Do you know who is bankrupt?”
The Companions said:
(( الْمُفْلِسُ فِينَا مَنْ لَا دِرْهَمَ لَهُ وَلَا مَتَاعَ ))
“The bankrupt among us is the one who has neither a dirham nor any goods.”
Then the Prophet ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ الْمُفْلِسَ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِصَلَاةٍ وَصِيَامٍ وَزَكَاةٍ، وَيَأْتِي قَدْ شَتَمَ هٰذَا، وَقَذَفَ هٰذَا، وَأَكَلَ مَالَ هٰذَا، وَسَفَكَ دَمَ هٰذَا، وَضَرَبَ هٰذَا… ))
Translation:
“The poorest of my nation on the Day of Judgment will be the one who comes with prayers, fasting, and zakat, but who has insulted someone, slandered someone, consumed someone’s wealth, shed someone’s blood, and harmed someone. Then his good deeds will be distributed among those people, and if the good deeds run out, their sins will be placed upon him, and then he will be thrown into Hell.”
Similarly, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ كَانَتْ عِنْدَهُ مَظْلَمَةٌ لِأَخِيهِ فَلْيَتَحَلَّلْهُ مِنْهُ الْيَوْمَ ))
Translation:
“Whoever owes a right to his brother should have it forgiven today, before the day when there will be neither dinar nor dirham.”
And He said:
(( مَنِ اقْتَطَعَ حَقَّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ بِيَمِينِهِ فَقَدْ أَوْجَبَ اللّٰهُ لَهُ النَّارَ وَحَرَّمَ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ ))
Translation:
“Whoever takes a right of a Muslim by swearing falsely, Allah makes Hell obligatory for him and forbids Paradise for him, even if that right is as small as a miswak stick.”
Conclusion
For a true believer, it is not enough to perform righteous deeds; protecting them is also very important. We should continuously monitor our faith, intentions, and actions, and avoid everything that causes Allah’s displeasure and the ruin of deeds.
We pray to Allah Almighty to grant us the ability to perform righteous deeds with sincerity, to protect them, to fulfill the rights of the servants, and to honor our deeds with acceptance.
وَآخِرُ دَعْوَانَا أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
