Two Basic Conditions.

{"Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by thier deeds."} [Suurah Al-Kahf 18:104]

For the acceptance of the righteous deeds it is stipulated that the following two basic conditions must be fullfilled:

a) The intentions while doing such deeds must be totally for Allaah's sake only without any show-off of to gain praise or fame.

b) Such a deed must be performed in accordance with the Sunnah of Allaah's Messenger Muhammad bin 'Abdullaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallaam), the last of the Prophets and the Messengers.

Narrated 'Aa'ishah (radhiallaahu 'anhaa): Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallaam) said, "If somebody innovates something which is not present in our religion (of Islaamic Monotheism), then that thing will be rejected." [Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, 3/2697 (O.P.861)]

In another Hadeeth narrated 'Aa'ishah (radhiallaahu 'anhaa): The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallaam) said: "Whoever performs a (good) deed which we have not ordered (anyone) to do (or is not in accordance with our religion of Islaamic Monotheism), then that deed will be rejected and will not be accepted." [Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, Vol.9, The Book of holding fast to the Qur'aan ad the Sunnah, Chapter No.20, before Hadeeth No.449 (O.P.)]