🏛️ Stop Obsessing Over Legacy. Focus on God’s Acceptance Instead.

28th Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1446H

Assalamu'alaikum,

A couple of years ago, I was at my friend's house discussing niyyah (intention). This friend does incredible work supporting pilgrims during Hajj season - impacting thousands of lives each year.

During our conversation, he shared something powerful:

"Once I noticed a small bird in my backyard, so I put out a plate of water for it. As I watched it drink, I thought to myself: 'Perhaps on the Day of Judgment, Allah will accept from me giving this little bird water, while all my Hajj work may not be accepted.'"

I sat there stunned. Here was someone whose visible legacy of service was undeniable, yet he understood something profound that most of us miss.

The Modern Legacy Obsession

As humans, we desperately want to matter. We want to feel that our brief time on this earth left some kind of mark, some proof that we existed and contributed something meaningful.

But what if our obsession with legacy is leading us away from what truly matters? The importance of sincerity and focusing on Allah accepting our work - no matter how big or small.

Our culture has narrowed the definition of "meaningful life" to what's visible, measurable, and memorable, creating a dangerous hierarchy of meaning:

• The mother quietly raising righteous children? Invisible.

• The entrepreneur getting awards and recognition? Legacy-maker.

• The volunteer who cleans the mosque every week? Forgotten.

• The philanthropist cutting the ribbon at a new community center? Immortalized.

The Warning That Should Terrify Us All

I'm haunted by the hadith where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described the first three people who will enter hellfire: a person who memorized Quran, a martyr who died in battle, and a wealthy person who gave generously to charity.

Each had what we'd call an impressive "legacy." Yet, each will be told: "You lied! You sought fame, recognition, and praise - and you got it. That was your reward."

Can you imagine the shock as they are dragged to hellfire? These weren't "bad" people by any worldly measure. They did objectively good things. They left behind legacies that people celebrated and remembered.

But their intentions were tainted by the desire for recognition.

This hadith does not mean we should stop building meaningful projects or stop striving for positive impact. But it’s a reminder that we need to shift how we think about legacy from "How will I be remembered?" to "O Allah, accept this from me".

Practical Steps to Shift to “God Acceptance” mindset

1. The Anonymity Test

Before starting a project, ask yourself, "Would I still do this if no one knew I did it?" If the answer is no, pause and examine your intentions before proceeding.

2. Build Waqf-able Projects

Focus on creating systems and organizations that can continue without you. Make yourself dispensable in a project so it runs better without you.

3. Focus on Hidden Work

Aim to have a 'khabee'a' (hidden good deeds between you and Allah): An orphan child you mentor quietly. A coworker you support discreetly. An elderly neighbor you check on weekly.

We won't know which of our actions (big or small) Allah accepts until we meet Him. That's both humbling and liberating. It means the safest approach is to focus on sincerity in everything - both the visible and invisible, the celebrated and the forgotten.

I'm not asking you to stop building meaningful projects. I'm asking you to examine why you're building them.

Remember, the only question that matters is: "Did Allah accept this from me?"

May Allah purify our intentions and accept our efforts. May He make our hidden good deeds better than our outward good deeds. And may He protect us from the trap of seeking recognition over God’s acceptance. Ameen.

Sincerely,