I am the One Who is most free from want of partners. So, he who does something for the sake of someone else beside Me, I discard him and his polytheism.'

Arabic text

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «قَالَ اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى: أَنَا أَغْنَى الشُّرَكَاءِ عَنِ الشِّرْكِ، مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا أَشْرَكَ فِيهِ مَعِي غَيْرِي تَرَكْتُهُ وَشِرْكَهُ».

Translation

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah Almighty said: 'I am the One Who is most free from want of partners. So, he who does something for the sake of someone else beside Me, I discard him and his polytheism.'"

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that Allah Almighty said: I am the One Who is most free from want of partners. He is Self-Sufficient beyond the need for anything; and if a person performs any good deed and devotes it to Allah and others, Allah discards this deed and does not accept it from him, and He turns it back to him. So, we should make our deeds sincerely devoted to Allah Almighty, for He only accepts what is done purely for His sake.

Benefits

• This serves as a warning about polytheism in all its forms and means that it prevents virtuous deeds from being accepted.
• Our sense of Allah's self-sufficiency and greatness helps us do honorable deeds with sincerity to Him.

Topics

• The Creed
• Virtues and Manners
• Belief in Allah the Mighty and Majestic
• Oneness of Allah's Worship
• Heart-Softeners and Sermons
• Acts of Heart