Admiring oneself after doing a good deed

Praise be to Allaah.

If a person feels self admiration after doing something
good or fears that he may show off, he should ward that off and resist it by seeking
refuge with Allaah from it, and saying “Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika an
ushrika bika wa ana a’lam, wa’staghfiruka lima laa a’lam (O Allaah, I
seek refuge with you from knowingly associating anything with You, and I seek Your
forgiveness for that of which I am unaware)” – as was reported from the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

These kind of feelings happen to everyone, but you have to try to be
sincere towards Allaah, seek His forgiveness, and remember that there is no strength and
no power except with Allaah; if it were not for the help of Allaah, you would not have
been able to do this good deed, so to Allaah be praise in the beginning and at the end.

The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to
Mu’aadh ibn Jabal: “O Mu’aadh, by Allaah indeed I love you, and I advise
you, O Mu’aadh, do not forget at the end of every prayer to say: Allaahumma
a’inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ‘ibaaditika (O Allaah, help
me to remember You, give thanks to You and worship You in the best way).” (Narrated
by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, al-Nasaa’i, and others; it is saheeh).

Do not forego doing good deeds for fear of showing off,
because this is one of the tricks that the Shaytaan uses to weaken people’s resolve
and stop them from doing things that Allaah loves and is pleased with.

As for merely feeling happy that one has done a good deed, this does
not contradict sincerity and faith, for Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say: “In the Bounty of Allâh, and in His Mercy (i.e.
Islâm and the Qur’ân); —therein let them rejoice.” That is better than
what (the wealth) they amass” [Yoonus 10:58] – meaning, if he attains
guidance, faith and righteous deeds, and the mercy resulting from that overwhelms him and
he feels joy and success as a result. Hence Allaah commanded us to rejoice over such
things.

The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If
your good deeds make you happy and your bad deeds make you sad, then you are a
believer.” (Narrated by Ahmad, Ibn Majaah and others from the hadeeth of Abu
Umaamah; it is a saheeh hadeeth).

By the same token, if people praise you for your good
deed, then this is a portion of the glad tidings of the Hereafter, which Allaah gives a
person in this world. The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
was asked, “What do you think if a man does a good deed and the people praise him for
it?” He said: “That is the portion of the glad tidings for the believer which he
is given in this world.” (Narrated by Muslim from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah,
may Allaah be pleased with him).

So this praise is a sign that Allaah is pleased with him
and loves him, so He makes him dear to other people.

We ask Allaah to make our intentions and deeds right.