How Does the Result of Good Deeds Change and Shape the Path of Our Growth?
We previously discussed accepted good deeds [1] and stated that an action is accepted when it penetrates our essence and inner self and adds to our spiritual asset. This characteristic shows the importance of accepted good deeds in our life path because one of the most important concerns in the field of religion and ethics is why we were created and what is the ultimate purpose of our life? Is life merely about living in this world, eating, and sleeping? Or is there a greater purpose for us, such as getting closer to God? Answering these questions requires clarifying the relationship between accepted good actions and the ultimate purpose of our creation.
To clarify this relationship, it should be noted that what gives meaning and direction to our lives and is referred to as the purpose of creation is not just performing religious rituals and acts of worship; it is the deed that is accepted by God; that is, an action that is embraced by Him and helps humans on the path of true growth and perfection. The explanation of what an accepted good deed is and its difference from a rejected action has already been explained in detail, which you can refer to. In this article, the goal is to clarify how an accepted deed relates to the purpose of our creation and how its outcome can pave the way to achieving this great goal and determine the path of life for us.
This lesson answers these important questions:
-What unique impact does an accepted action have on our growth and perfection?
-How can the presence or absence of accepted good deeds change our destiny and identity?
-What is the relationship between the acceptance of an action and our ability to possess divine attributes and status?
This article attempts to provide a basis for deeper thinking about the value and meaning of life and the religious educational perspective, by examining the result of good deeds; this perspective emphasizes the realization of purpose and true growth, not just the repetitive religious or moral behaviors. Explaining the result of good deeds as an intermediary link between the individual path of each person and the ultimate purpose of creation can provide us with a new perspective on understanding the relationship between morality, worship, and the true meaning of life.
The Role of Accepted Good Deeds in Human Growth and Elevation
An accepted deed is one of the most important factors influencing the path of human growth toward absolute perfection. Many great moral and mystical figures believe that no factor can prepare a person’s inner space for spiritual flourishing and transformation as much as actions that are accepted by God. An accepted action is not limited to the appearance of an action or behavior, but rather its acceptance by God depends on three main internal elements: having a sincere intention to perform the action, honesty and avoiding pretense of performing the action, and the presence of the heart while performing the action.
When an action is performed with divine intention and the goal of gaining God’s pleasure, it not only leaves its mark on society and human relationships, but also profoundly transforms the soul and heart of the individual who performs it. Such an action gradually causes a person to distance themselves from empty routine, aimless repetition of actions, and superficiality, leading them to discover deeper layers of their existence. An accepted good deed is like a seed planted in the soil of the heart, and with care and persistence, it blossoms into sincerity, honesty, and spiritual growth. In this process of development, a person strives to become a better version of themselves every day by identifying various weaknesses, such as weak will or wrong motives. Acceptance from God is a warm support and hope that makes the motivation to continue the path of growth more vivid.
Accepted deeds connect our material life with our spiritual and eternal dimensions; that is, by performing such actions, we will not only think about worldly successes, but also pay attention to the formation and strengthening of our true and eternal essence. This perspective paves the way for movement toward the ultimate purpose of creation, which is to attain closeness to God and absolute perfection; as a result, the accepted action is not just a mere religious behavior, but a comprehensive program for our personality growth and soul elevation. Performing accepted actions opens the path for our intellective and spiritual growth so that we can more deeply and seriously pursue and discover the ultimate purpose of our creation.
How Are the Result of Good Deeds Connected to the Purpose of Our Creation?
In previous articles, we discussed the purpose of creation and stated that we were born to become similar to God and that the ultimate purpose of our creation is not just physical presence; it is to achieve servitude and closeness to God. In this view, servitude is not just about performing worshiping acts or religious rituals, but rather a path of inner growth and development that prepares us to embody the names and attributes of God within ourselves and acquire human perfections one by one.
As human beings, we have an unlimited capacity for growth and perfection, and all the resources of the world are at our service in this path to achieve successful servitude. Our mission in the womb of the world is to nurture and elevate our souls so that by following the path of servitude, we can connect with the Absolute Perfection, that is Allah. For this reason, an accepted action takes on special importance in this process because if religious actions and rituals are performed without the condition of divine acceptance, they cannot lead to a successful path.
An accepted action is one that not only aligns outwardly with divine laws and commands but is also carried out with pure and sincere intention and motivation; that is, it is done solely for the pleasure of God and has a real impact on our personality and life. Only such an action can play an effective role in the path of servitude, and like a bridge, it takes us from the material world to higher levels of existence. The result of good deeds is also revealed precisely in this existential transformation and growth; that is, this type of action will cause potential talents to flourish and increase knowledge, bringing us closer to the Absolute Perfection.
Why Are Accepted Deeds the Prerequisite for Achieving the Purpose of Our Creation?
We noted that the result of good deeds is to achieve the purpose of creation, that is, to become like the Absolute Perfection. But how does this process happen? Why are accepted actions so important that without them, one cannot have a healthy birth into the hereafter? In the following, we will briefly answer these two questions.
Achieving Existential Harmony with Accepted Deeds
Accepted actions align our soul and personality with divine values and attributes, and develops our inner abilities. For this reason, this type of action helps us to find the worthiness to reach higher spiritual levels and come closer to the original purpose of creation.
In fact, the result of good deeds is the realization of existential harmony with the levels of perfection and closeness to God because acceptance is a strategic indicator that shows how closely an action is connected to the purpose of human creation. Real growth and perfection depend on this connection and harmony. A closer examination of religious texts and rational analysis also makes it clearer that the value of every human work is measured in relation to the ultimate purpose of creation, and this criterion must guide both individual and collective behavior and decision-making.
Influence on Human Destiny in the Hereafter
According to the Quranic and narrative tradition [2], actions that are not truly accepted, even if they have a religious appearance, are of no benefit to the human and are not considered as valuable assets in the hereafter; only accepted actions will lead to our eternal bliss. If we insist on merely the appearance of religion, without considering the acceptance of the actions, we will stray from the path of real growth. These types of actions not only fail to elevate us, but may also provide the basis for negligence, arrogance, or hypocrisy, and distance us from the main purpose of our creation.
Focusing only on the appearance of an action and ignoring its inner meaning and acceptance has turned religiosity into superficial and rootless behavior that provides the basis for neglect, hypocrisy, and even deviation from the main purpose of creation; however, accepted actions, relying on sincerity of intention and inner quality, provide the basis for real growth and closeness to God. The main difference between genuine religiosity and religious pretense is in the quality and depth of actions, not just in their outward performance.
Human’s relationship with the purpose of creation is closely and inseparably linked to accepted actions. An accepted action is not just a means of individual obedience, but also plays the role of the engine of progress and growth of the human and society. Only when the inner aspect of actions and existential growth happen, and we are in harmony with the purpose of creation, we can approach the original destination of our creation. The result of good deeds is seen precisely here; that is, a real connection is established between human behavior and the main purpose of creation.
Ultimately, the acceptance of actions is a criterion for true religion and freedom from negligence and hypocrisy, so that a person’s actions become a true reflection of the purpose of creation in their daily life.
References
- In this context, “good deeds” refers to actions deemed acceptable by God.
- “And we shall turn to whatever deeds they did, and we shall turn them into scattered dust.” (Quran, 25:23)
“Indeed, Allah accepts only from the pious.” (Quran, 5:27)
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: “How many are those who fast, but gain nothing from their fast except hunger, and how many are those who stand in prayer, but gain nothing from it except sleeplessness.” (Man la Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 2, p. 79; Wasa’il al-Shia, vol. 7, p. 312)
Imam al-Sadiq (Peace be upon him) said: “Allah does not accept any action except that which is done purely for Him.” (Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 16)