When you hire someone to do something for you, when they have finished you check what they have done, and then pay them for it. Sometimes, if they haven’t done it exactly right, you might only pay them part of the agreed fee. This is similar to Allah accepting our deeds, and only giving partial acceptance or partial rewards depending on how many shortcomings there are.
إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ
Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous. [5:27]
Voluntary actions make up for shortcomings in the obligations
We all have gaps in our siyam (fasting), and this is why we have the six fasts of Shawwal – to make up any shortfall in our obligations. It is similar to sunnah and nafl prayers before and after the fard salah, to fill in any gaps and shortcomings.
The first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayer. If it is complete, then the voluntary (prayers) will also be recorded for him (as an increase). If it is not complete then Allah will say to His angels: ‘Look and see whether you find any voluntary prayers for My slave, and take them to make up what is lacking from his obligatory prayers.’ Then all his deeds will be reckoned in like manner. [Ibn Majah]
On the Day of Judgement, our extra, voluntary actions will supplement any shortcomings in the obligations. This applies to sunnah and nafl salah for fard prayers, sadaqa to supplement zakat, and fasting in Sha’ban and Shawwal to shore up Ramadan.
Were my deeds accepted?
Scholars have said a sign of acceptance of deeds is when Allah motivates you to do more good deeds. If you were doing tarawih every night during Ramadan, and when the month ends you forget where the gate of the mosque is, this is not a good sign.
Another sign would be if Ramadan changed you and made you a better person in your words, actions, character and dealings.
We need to monitor our eyes, ears, tongue and intention to make sure we keep up the momentum after Ramadan. The Lord of Ramadan is also the Lord of Shawwal and all other months, and worthy of being worshipped year-round. We need to maintain this mindfulness of Him at all times.
Let’s monitor ourselves and try to increase our closeness to Allah as we have done in Ramadan. Keep a link with the Quran, don’t just recite it in Ramadan and neglect it for the rest of the year. Try to keep doing at least one congregational prayer in the mosque per day – do not do this only in Ramadan.
Inshallah we will hold on to these pillars, and continue to become better and closer to Allah. May He accept all our actions during this Ramadan.
Delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim on the 30th of Ramadan. Transcribed by Hana Khan.
Awaiting acceptance and carrying Ramadan forward
By Samia Ahmed
Alḥamdulillah, we have witnessed Ramadan. We stood in prayer, we fasted, we made duʿa, and we tasted something of closeness to Allah. Now, as we approach the final fast, a different emotion settles in the heart.
Not relief that it is over.
But concern… has it been accepted?
Because the reality is that our deeds are not judged by how much we do, but whether Allah accepts them.
Allah says:
“Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous.” ( 5:27)
This verse shifts everything. It is not about quantity alone, but sincerity, humility and taqwa.
Shaykh Haytham gave a powerful analogy. When someone is hired to do a job, they are only paid once the job is completed properly. If the work is incomplete or flawed, the payment is withheld.
Similarly, we have “worked” through Ramadan, fasting, praying and striving. But the reward is not automatic. We are now waiting for acceptance from Allah.
And this is why the companions would be more concerned about the acceptance of their deeds than the deeds themselves.
Allah says about them:
“And those who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will return to their Lord.” (23:60)
ʿAisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked whether this referred to those who commit sins. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“No, O daughter of al-Siddiq. They are those who fast, pray and give charity, yet they fear that it will not be accepted from them.” (Tirmidhi)
This is the balance of the believer.
Effort, followed by humility.
Action, followed by concern.
We know that our Ramadan was not perfect. There were gaps in our ṣalah, distractions in our siyam, moments of heedlessness in our duʿa.
And from the mercy of Allah is that He gives us ways to fill those gaps.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The first thing a person will be brought to account for on the Day of Resurrection is his prayer. If it is sound, he will be successful. If it is deficient, Allah will say: Look, does My servant have voluntary prayers to complete what is lacking from his obligatory prayer?” (Tirmidhi)
This is a beautiful mercy. Our nafl prayers complete our fard. Our extra charity fills the gaps in our zakah. Our voluntary fasts make up for deficiencies in our obligatory fasting.
And this is where the six days of Shawwal come in.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year.” (Muslim)
But beyond the reward, there is a deeper meaning. These six days are not just additional ibadah. They are a continuation. They are a sign that what we built in Ramadan has not ended.
Because the real question is not: What did we do in Ramadan?
The real question is: Who have we become after Ramadan?
Has Ramadan changed us?
Do we find our hearts softer?
Our prayers more present?
Our relationship with the Qur’an stronger?
Our character more refined?
The sign of acceptance is not perfection. The sign of acceptance is continuity.
The scholars said: The reward of a good deed is the ability to perform another good deed after it.
Allah says:
“And those who are guided, He increases them in guidance and grants them their taqwa.” (47:17)
If after Ramadan you find yourself drawn to more good deeds, more Qur’an, more dhikr, more sincerity, then this is a hopeful sign that Allah has accepted from you.
But if we return immediately to heedlessness, to neglect, to distance from Allah, then we must pause and reflect.
Because Ramadan was never meant to be a temporary state. It was meant to reset us.
Allah says:
“And worship your Lord until certainty (death) comes to you.” (15:99)
Our Rabb is worthy of worship beyond Ramadan. The connection we built with Him must continue.
The Qur’an that we held in Ramadan must remain in our lives. Even if it is a small portion daily, consistency is beloved to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are small.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
This is the way forward.
Not overwhelming ourselves.
Not trying to maintain Ramadan at its peak.
But preserving its spirit.
A daily portion of Qur’an.
A commitment to ṣalah with presence.
Regular dhikr.
Acts of quiet sincerity.
And most importantly, checking ourselves (muraqaba an-nafs).
Where am I now compared to before Ramadan?
Because Ramadan was an opportunity to realign, to cleanse, to return.
And now comes the real test.
May Allah accept our fasting, our prayers and our duʿa.
May He allow Ramadan to leave a lasting effect upon our hearts.
May He make us better after Ramadan than we were before it.
And may He allow us to follow one good deed with another, until we meet Him.
Ameen.