When a person makes Du’a by using a Waseelah (medium), like a good deed he has sincerely performed in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ answers his Du’a for the sake of that Waseelah. Let’s listen to a faith-refreshing parable regarding this:

Blessing of the Du’a made through the Waseelah of a good deed

It is mentioned on page 139 of the book ‘Faizan Riyad-us-Saliheen’, published by Maktaba-tul-Madinah – the publishing department of Dawat-e-Islami:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has said that the Beloved Rasool
صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: In the previous era, three men were travelling somewhere, it suddenly began to rain; in order to seek refuge, they entered a cave to spend the night. When they entered the cave, a rock slid from the mountain and blocked the entrance of the cave. Having seen this they said: There is only one way to get rid of this trouble and that is to make Du’a by presenting the Waseelah of our good deeds in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. One of them said, ‘O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! My parents were old, but I did not give my children and servants milk before serving my parents first. One day I ended up very far away in search for wood. When I returned I found that my parents had fallen asleep. I brought some milk for them but felt it was inappropriate to awaken them and I did not want to give milk to my family before my parents, so I spent the whole night standing with the milk bowl in my hand. When the morning dawned, I offered them the milk. O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! If I had performed this deed only for Your pleasure, then bring us salvation from this trouble! By virtue of his Du’a, the rock moved slightly, but not enough for them to exit.

The second person said: O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! I loved my uncle’s daughter very much. I expressed my evil desire to her, but she refused. One day, she came to me for help, being a victim of poverty. I gave her 100 dinars on condition that she would satisfy my evil intentions. She had no choice and agreed. When we were alone and I overpowered her, she said, ‘Fear Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and do not commit this sin.’ On hearing this I left her and abstained from the sin, though I deeply loved her. I did not get the dinars back from her as well. O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! If this deed of mine was solely for Your pleasure, then bring us