Levels and Degrees of Sincerity

First: To perform a righteous deed for the sake of Allaah without considering and intending any other thing; this is the uppermost level of sincerity

Second: To perform a deed for the sake of Allaah and then consider and intend something permissible. For example, a man fasted with the intention of fasting for the sake of Allaah, and he also intended to preserve his good health. What is the ruling on this action of his? What about a man who intended pilgrimage and trade? And a man who fought [in the way of Allaah] and intended booty? What of a man who went to mosque and intended physical exercise with the walking?

What about man who attended congregational prayer in order to prove his trustworthiness and so that he will not be accused of anything? Do all these intentions nullify the deeds? They do not nullify the deeds but they may reduce the reward. The best thing is that they should not be present. There should neither be any partner in the deed nor should it find its way into it in the beginning.

Third: To intend and consider something not permissible to consider and intend. For instance, while a person was performing a righteous deed, the intention that is not permissible for him to have entered into it, such as show off, seeking for fame and people’s praise and so on. Does this nullify the action or not? If it occurred at the beginning of the action, it nullifies it. It is like someone who prayed for people’s sake. If the thought of show off occurred to him while performing the action and he repelled it and fought against it, his action is valid and rewarded. [However], if the thought of show off occurred to him while performing the action and he did not repel it; rather, he continued with the show off, such nullifies the action.

Fourth: To perform a righteous deed for the sake of the world alone. He fasted for the sake of dietary not desiring reward; a man went for pilgrimage for the sake of trade alone; an individual gave out zakaah in order for his wealth to increase; a man went for jihaad for the sake of booty and the man who went to the mosque for the sake of physical exercise and good health… the deeds of all these people are null and void.

Allaah the Most High said: “Whoever wishes for the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell, he will burn therein disgraced and rejected, (far away from Allaah's Mercy).” [Soorah Al-Israa’: 18]

Allaah also said: “They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire; and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do.” [Soorah Hood: 16]

Fifth: To perform a deed solely for show off. Question: Does show off nullify the deed or the person is just sinful? Response: show off nullifies the deed and the person is sinful. This is because there are things that nullify deed without the person being sinful like passing wind during prayer. There are some people who show off with fatwa by issuing a fatwa to the rich and noble people contrary to what they issue to the poor. They would say to the rich: We issued fatwa to the people that it is not permissible but it is permissible to you. They may do that due to their weakness in front of them. 

Consequently, some of the pious predecessors said: ‘If you see a scholar going to the gates of the rulers, know that he is a thief; and if you see him going to the rich people, know that he is insincere. As for the one who goes with the intention of repudiation and goodness, for him is what he intended.

Source: Sisilah A’maal al-Quloob, p. 32-34 by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid or Sincerity, p. 67-71 by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid, translated by Abdus-Samee Abdus-Salaam