Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “People fall into two categories as they set out to do their daily activities:  1. There are those who sell themselves to free their necks from hell-fire; 2. There are others who are busy casting themselves into the fire-pit.”

 

And Allah says, “Whoever surrenders his or her purpose to Allah while doing good works they shall have no reason to fear or grieve.”

 

In light of these, you need to ask yourself: what is your primary focus in life? Are you doing what you do to please Allah? Or are you only working for fame and self-glorification?

 

Of course, humans can fall into temptations of ostentation and self-righteousness. That is why we are ordered to engage in introspection to correct ourselves. We are also ordered to ensure to purify our intentions before engaging in acts of worship and other good deeds.

 

Once we have done what we could, we are excused. Allah tells us in the Qur’an:

 

“Allah does not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear: in his favor shall be whatever good he does, and against him whatever evil he does. O our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or unwittingly do wrong! “O our Lord! Lay not upon us a burden such as You did lay upon those who lived before us!  O our Lord! Make us not bear burdens which we have no strength to bear! “And efface Thou our sins, and grant us forgiveness, and bestow Your mercy upon us! You are our Lord Supreme: help us, then, against people who reject the truth!.” (Al-Baqarah 2:286)

 

Allah Almighty knows best.