Firstly, physical actions require intention and sincerity, and they are the greatest actions of the heart. The reward from Allaah depends on the level of sincerity. The purer the sincerity, the greater the reward. Another factor is the presence of mind when physical acts of worship are being performed. Presence of mind causes the reward to be more or less. A person will not benefit from prayer except that which he is mindful of. Hence, a person may receive a tenth of the reward or a quarter, third, half, or more or less depending on the presence of mind, in prayer or otherwise. This is because a person may be reading the Qur’aan but his mind is inattentive and absent. Therefore, his reward will not be the same as a person who reads the Qur’aan with presence of mind, reflection and contemplation over it. All of this has an effect on the reward, whether more or less.
A Muslim must strive to cleanse his heart and actions. Allaah, Most Exalted, says,
(قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا)
“It is a successful person who purifies it...” (ASh-Shams 9),
meaning, purifies himself and cleanses it with sincerity. This is the most important factor upon which actions depend. Sincerity is what decides the acceptability or rejection of actions. Likewise, is emulating the Prophet ﷺ. These two factors are conditions for the acceptability of religious actions. If there are gaps with sincerity, then the lack of that will affect the reward proportionally. Having gaps in concentration for a short while does not have a big effect, but if it continues for most of the prayer, it is affected. If the act of worship is meant for anyone other than Allaah, the entire act is invalid and such as person will have to account for his action. Indeed, the first to face difficulties on the Day of Judgement are three types of people:
1- A scholar who learns and teaches people so that he will be called a ‘scholar.’
2- A soldier who was killed in the battlefield apparently for the Sake of Allaah, but he fought and killed so that people would call him brave.
3- A philanthropist who apparently gives for the Sake of Allaah, but in reality he gave so that people will call him generous.
These three types of people (and we see seek Allaah to safeguard us from being like that) are the first to enter the Fire. Therefore, there is no doubt that actions are based on intention and sincerity. Rather than learning and teaching being among the best deeds and acts of obedience, they could lead a person to be the first to enter the Fire. The same applies to warfare and charity for the Sake of Allaah. May Allaah help us.