Does feeling pleased with one’s grades contradict sincerity of intention in seeking knowledge?
Question

                I am a student and I like to get good grades and excellent reports. But at the same time my intention is good. What is your view on feeling pleased with good grades and feeling upset with poor grades – does this undermine sincerity of intention?
Praise be to Allah. 
          It appears, in sha’ Allaah, that this does not undermine 
          sincerity of intention, because it is natural for a person to feel happy 
          about something good and be upset by something bad. Allaah has explained 
          that things which do not agree with man are called bad things (sayi’ah), 
          so that should upset him, and that the good things (hasanah) should 
          make him feel happy. 
 
          This does not affect your sincerity of intention if, 
          as you say, your intention is good. But if your concern is only your 
          grades or certificate, then this is another matter. Look at ‘Abd-Allaah 
          ibn ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him), when the 
          Prophet 
          
          (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) posed a question to his 
          companions and said, “Among the trees there is one which resembles the 
          believer.” The Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) started guessing 
          the names of all kind of trees, guessing the names of desert trees. 
          Ibn ‘Umar said: “I thought that it was the date-palm, but I was young 
          and I did not want to speak.” (narrated by al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-‘Ilm). 
‘Umar (may 
          Allaah be pleased with him) said to his son, “I wish that you had said 
          it.” This indicates that there is nothing wrong with a person feeling 
          happy when he does well and the like.