sincerity in Doing the Good Deeds

Al Hakim narrated in Al-Mustakrak: A man asked the messenger of Allah Sallallahu ^Alayhi Wasallam and said:

Oh Messenger of Allah, A man seeks reward and praise what does he get? He (the prophet) said: Nothing.  The Man asked the messenger of Allah  Sallallahu ^Alayhi Wasallam  a second time and said Oh Messenger of Allah  Sallallahu ^Alayhi Wasallam a Man seeks reward and praise what does he get? He (the Messenger) said he gets nothing then the messenger of Allah  Sallallahu ^Alayhi Wasallam said: Allah does not except from the good deeds except that which was done in sincerity for Him and seeking the reward from Him."

روى الحاكم في المستدرك أن رجلا سأل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يا رسول الله الرجل يبتغي الأجر والذكر ما له؟ قال :" لا شيء 

له " (أي الرجل يعمل العمل يبتغي الأجر من الله تعالى ومدح الناس له) فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " لا شيء له " أي لا ثواب له بهذا العمل لأنه يريد مدح الناس له ثم سأل الرجل رسول الله مرة ثانية فقال يا رسول الله الرجل يبتغي الأجر والذكر ما له؟ فقال :" لا شيء له " ثم قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " إن الله لا يقبل من العمل إلا ما كان خالصا له وابتغي به وجهه " أي إن نوى بعمل الطاعة الأجر من الله والذكر من الناس فليس له من الثواب شيء.

Therefore, when you do a good deed don't focus on getting praised by other but do it for the sake of Allah only.  If you truly properly understand this and practice it, it will help you greatly in this world and in the next. Some people do good deeds and they are so focused on the reaction of others to thank them or reward them to the point if they are not recognized for good they have done they feel bothered and start to complain. The one who is sincere he/she is satisfied to do it for Allah and doesn't expect a return from others.  In-fact, it was said that the last sin a Waliyy departs  from before reaching the station of Wilaayah is the sin of insincerity.

So strive to cleanse your heart.  

An interesting advise from a scholar.  

One of my friends once asked a pious genuine scholars about women denying the husband good deeds toward her and how one can protect his wife from falling in this sin.  You see to deny the good one has done for your is among the major sins.  This tend to be more common with women, thus, at a moment of anger she would tell her husband "You have done nothing for me" and this is common in many cultures today and in the past.  You should not say such words and rejects all the good one has done for you at a moment of anger, and anger is not excuse.  So this man wanted to save his wife from being sinful and asked the scholar.  The scholar told him do not do anything for her, but do it for the sake of Allah, hence, if she says "you have done nothing for me" she will not be laying, since the husband has done it for the sake of Allah.  And when you do it for the sake of God you do not expect a return favor. Equally then man should be satisfied that he has done the good for his wife for the sake of Allah.