Is it permissible to seek reward from Allah after completing a good deed, or must one seek it before commencing the deed? And is it permissible to seek reward for all future deeds, or for all past deeds, all at once?

The answer is summarized in two points:

1. Seeking reward for future good deeds: This is permissible, but a person is not rewarded for all their deeds merely by that intention, except for those deeds that do not require the intention of seeking closeness to God, such as tasbeeh (glorification of God) and adhan (definition) (call to prayer). As for acts of worship that require an intention, the intention must be present at the time of commencing the act, based on the Prophet’s (PBUH) saying: "Deeds are only by intentions." For deeds whose validity does not depend on an intention, such as spending on one's family, the doer will not be rewarded unless they bring to mind the intention for it.

2. Seeking reward for past good deeds: It is inconceivable for the intention of seeking reward to be valid for good deeds that were performed previously without an intention. Because if it were possible, there would be no need to form an intention before commencing the act.