Conflicting feelings about helping people
21-10-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
I am a Muslimah of 28-years-old. I always wanted to be in a position to help others and do good deeds. Al-Hamdu Lillaah, I have a job today through which I can help others. My problem is that I have evil thoughts and jealousy. Whenever I am approached by some one for help, I either feel jealous of that person and do not feel like helping him. With all this on my mind I still go ahead and help others, and did not cause any damage to any one (Al-Hamdu Lillaah). People think I am a very noble person. I want to get rid of all the evil thoughts in my mind that disillusions me most of the time and is a sort of hindrance in my way to do well to others. These thoughts make my work more difficult and I have to continuously fight with them. I hope to find a way that will guide me to the right path.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
A person will be rewarded for his/her acts in the Hereafter when he/she helps others if his/her intention is to get closer to Allaah and for His Pleasure. The Prophet 
said: "Actions are judged according to intentions, so every one will be rewarded for what he intends." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] So if a person performs any action seeking the Pleasure of Allaah, he will be rewarded for it here and in the Hereafter. So working while having this sincere intention, will help you to overcome the whispers of Satan to you which prevent you from doing good.
If someone remembers the reward that Allaah has preserved for a person who helps his fellow Muslims, this will help him overcome Satan's whispers and the confusion resulting from them. The Prophet said: "Allaah will help the person as long as he is helping his brother." [Muslim] The Prophet also informed us that Allaah has forgiven a man who gave water to a thirsty dog. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] He also informed us that Allaah has forgiven a prostitute from the Israelites because she gave water to a dog. [Muslim] So if a person remembers such things and seeks the forgiveness of Allaah and His Pleasure, this will incite him to act and do good.
Finally, a person should be careful about the diseases of the heart which could be the cause preventing him from doing good to others, like pride, envy and showing off, because these diseases prevent the person from doing good to others. So we ask Allaah to enable us to do good.
Allaah knows best.