The Practising Muslim · Repentance & the Heart

Complaining & Motivation in Islam

Explore rulings on complaining, motivation for deeds, and positive thinking of Allah.

4 questions · Medium · about 2 minutes

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4 questions, about 2 minutes.

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Show questions and answers Spoilers: every answer and explanation for all 4 questions.

1. What kind of complaint is not contrary to patience?

  • Complaining to Allah and relying on Him. (correct answer)
  • Complaining about Allah’s decree to people.
  • Speaking in a way that rejects patience.
  • Blaming Allah for hardship.

Why

Complaining to Allah is part of servitude, trust, and reliance on Him. It is not contrary to patience, as shown by the examples of Ya‘qoob and Ayyoob عليهما السلام. What contradicts patience is complaining about Allah’s decree to people in a way that shows objection, resentment, or lack of trust.

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2. What does thinking positively of Allah mean?

  • Believing in His names, attributes, actions, mercy, wisdom, and promise while striving to obey Him. (correct answer)
  • Persisting in sin while assuming there will be no consequences.
  • Neglecting obligations because Allah is merciful.
  • Expecting forgiveness without repentance or righteous effort.

Why

Thinking positively of Allah is an act of worship of the heart. It includes believing what is appropriate to Allah of His names, attributes, actions, mercy, wisdom, and acceptance of sincere repentance and righteous deeds. But true positive thinking is not delusion: it must be joined with obedience, repentance, and avoiding sin.

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3. Can an external reward or condition motivate someone to memorize Qur’an without ruining sincerity?

  • Yes, if the main intention is seeking Allah’s pleasure and reward. (correct answer)
  • No, any external encouragement automatically destroys sincerity.
  • Only if the reward is symbolic and has no worldly value.
  • Yes, even if the only motive is worldly gain.

Why

A person may be encouraged by an external reason, such as a marriage condition or a religious competition, while still doing the deed sincerely for Allah. The key is that the main motive must be worship, obedience, and seeking Allah’s reward. The external factor may encourage the deed, but it should not become the only purpose.

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4. What happens if worldly gain is the main motive for doing an act of worship?

  • The person has no reward for it in the Hereafter. (correct answer)
  • The reward is doubled because the deed had two benefits.
  • The deed is always accepted as long as it looks religious.
  • The worldly motive never affects the reward.

Why

Acts of worship should be done primarily to seek Allah’s pleasure. If worldly gain is the only or stronger motive, the person has no reward for that deed in the Hereafter and may be sinful for turning worship into a means of worldly gain. If seeking Allah’s pleasure is the stronger motive and worldly benefit is secondary, then there is no blame, though doing the deed purely for Allah is better.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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