to be less expecting reward from other people - for muslim monday

to be less expecting reward from other people - for muslim monday

May 19, '09 12:48 AM for everyone

salam.
i didnt participate a lot lately in this event due to certain reasons. though, i'd like to start participating again this week. so here's my contribution for muslim monday after having some sort of days off. lol

this week's theme is to post about an islamic virtue that you would like to improve upon, or your goal you would like to achieve. if possible, you can quote a hadith or ayah that either praises or explains the importance of the virtue or the goal that u have chosen.

and when u r done, u can please come back and post a link to your contribution here.

http://groupmuslimdaily.multiply.com/journal/item/15/Muslim_Monday_-_Islamic_VirtuesGoals
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hmm, i cant figure out the proper term for the virtue i pick. i dont know the short word for,
"to be less expecting reward from other people, and hoping only the Allah's Ridho(blessing)"

i, many times, got in some sort of circumstance where i did good deed (the kind of deed that doesnt against the shar'i of course) for someone while unconciously hoping that he/she will do the same thing to me, or at least thank me, or at least be nicer to me afterward. and most of the time i did have the expected feedbacks. but sometimes, there were also unexpected feedbacks. instead of getting reward or grateful words, i got nothing but ungrateful behaviour and treatments. and when it happened, i got so upset, and kind of regret for doing the good thing i've done for him/her, and sometimes i got to the the extent that i decided to stop doing something good for him/her no matter what.

but then i realised, if i keep this attitude it means i preserve a stupidity. if i carry out to do things with a hope of reward from others then it's not impossible for me to get another disappointments. such a waste..

and then i asked my self,
did Allah ever order people to perform good deeds for the sake of other people? did Allah ever ask people to rely on anyone/anything but Him? and did not Allah mention over and over in holy quran that the best reward someone could get is the reward from Him(SWT)?

there's a saying from rasulullah SAWW regarding this matter:
"If you find that somebody is not grateful for all that you have done for him, then do not get disappointed because often you will find that someone else feels under your obligation though you have done nothing for him and thus your good deeds will be compensated, and Allah will reward you for your goodness."

what i excerpt from this hadith is that we should not worry when someone reacts indifferently after what we did for him/her or even treats us ungratefully . since Allah must count every single deed of His creatures and He is the best judge. also, He'd promised the good reward for them who do good things with no motivation but to please Allah, and He is the best reward giver.

and there's also an ayah in Qur'an regarding this in Albaqarah:62
"Lo! Those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee, Muhammad), and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans - whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right - surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve."

so i think i should exercise myself to try to be less expecting reward from other people. i should keep reminding myself that the best motivation in doing anything is only for the sake of Allah. i know it wont be easy, and i've been through my ups and downs in observing it. and i'm not sure if i can get to the level that i do not hope any kind of reward from other people at all, even if it will take whole life. though i believe, Allah counts all efforts of His creatures. InsyaAllah, in Allah i seek the best guidance. Amin yaa Rabb..