Sincerity – Key to Success
Meaning of
Sincerity
Ikhlas Sincerity is
derived from the root word Kh-L-Sd خ ل ص Lets see the different words that are derived from
this root word.
(khalas): خَلَصَ to be rid of all adulteration and impurities
and to become pure.
khalasa minal
qaum): خَلَصَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ he separated from the nation and became a
recluse {T}.
(akhlasah
shaiyi): اَخْلَصَ الشَّیْءَ made something pure; selected it {M}.
(Makhlasu): الَمُخْلَصُ someone who has been separated from the
others and selected for some purpose {T}.
Ibn Faris says the
basic meaning is to purify and separate the unwanted parts.
Sincerity (Ikhlas) in
Islam means all Beliefs, Words and Actions should be exercised with the motto
of pleasing Allah only. If the motive is the pleasure of Allah then the deeds
will be termed successful.
If any deed is done
for the sake of anybody other than Allah then it is called as Riya (ریا ) Showoff and those deeds or actions will leads to failure and
will not be given any weightage on the day of judgement.
Quran clearly states Say: 'Surely my Prayer, all my acts of worship, and my living and my dying are for Allah alone, the Lord of the whole universe. (6:162). As a true follower of Islam one should divert all his efforts, worships, dealings and businesses in the directions of pleasing Allah alone
True and sincere faith which will be accepted by the lord will be the deen (system of life) sent by him to the nations
When we deal with people we are impressed by their words and looks due to our limited knowledge. However Allah is not impressed by these possessions; hence Prophet Mohammed SAS said Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attires but he look at yours heart and accomplishments (Muslim)
Perfection of Faith (Imaan) depends on directing ones love and hatred with anyone only for the sake of Allah The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone loves for Allah's sake, hates for Allah's sake, gives for Allah's sake and withholds for Allah's sake, he will have perfect faith. Sunan Abi Dawud 4681
Deeds can be divided into four categories with relation to deeds and
intentions
•
Good deeds with good intentions.
•
Good deeds with evil intentions.
•
Evil deeds with good intentions.
•
Evil deeds with evil intentions.
Allah accepts only good deeds done with good intentions; If the intentions are
evil then deeds are rejected irrespective whether they are good or bad.
Sincerity in Deeds
Islam has obligated Muslims to be sincere in various deeds such as:
1.
Prayers (Salath): Prophet Mohammed SAS said To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you.“ Bukhari. Salath which the most important pillar of Islam has been made obligatory to offer five times a day. This should be practiced with utmost sincerity considering that you are praying in front of the lord and either you are seeing him or atleast have a feeling that he is seeing you.
2.
Fasting: Similarly, The Prophet ﷺ) said: If anyone fasts during Ramadan because of faith and in order to seek his reward from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven to him (Bukhari).
Fasting is prescribed as a purifying and personality development course for a complete month every year; if the same is practiced with total sincerity all the previous sins will be wiped-out.
3.
Migration: When a person travels from ones land to another for seeking better life he should check his intentions as Prophet SAS Said The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for." Bukhari.
4.
Jihad: One of the greatest deeds, Jihad (struggling in the way of Allah) will not be acceptable unless it is done for the pleasure of Allah Campanions asked Prophet "A man fights for war booty; another fights for fame and a third fights for showing off; which of them fights in Allahs Cause?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "He who fights that Allahs Word (i.e. Islam) should be superior, fights in Allahs Cause.“ (Bukhari 2810)
5.
Loans: People normally takes loans to meet their sudden requirement which are out of their present assets; However for those who seek loans without having an intention of repaying is strictly warned by The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever accepts other people's wealth intending to pay it back, Allah will pay it back for him. And whoever accepts it intending to waste it, Allah, the Most High, will waste (destroy) him." [Reported by al-Bukhari].
Benefits of Sincerity in
this world
Bright stars: In a society there are few people who get the attention of general public, They are noticed every where they go and are praised more than they deserves. While there are quite a few who are major contributors but they go unrecognized, no one notices them; for those types of people it was said by Prophet Mohammed SAS Blessing for sincere one who are Bright stars of Guidance; because of whom the darkness of fitnas are removed. (Bayhaqi)
Divine Help in Distressed situation: Prophet Mohammed SAS has narrated a story of three youths from Bani Israel Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar reported that the Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
Three men of a people before you, were on a journey when they were overtaken by a storm and therefore they took shelter in a cave. A rock slipped down from the mountain and blocked the exit from cave.
One of them said:"The only way for deliverance left is to beseech Allah in the name of some virtuous deed."
Three men of a people before you, were on a
journey when they were overtaken by a storm and therefore they took shelter in
a cave. A rock slipped down from the mountain and blocked the exit from cave.
One of them said:"The only way for
deliverance left is to beseech Allah in the name of some virtuous deed."
Thereupon one of them supplicated,"O
Lord, my parents were very old, and I used to offer them their nightly drink of
milk before my children and the other members of the family. One day I went
astray far away in search of green trees and could return only after my parent
had gone to sleep. When I had milked the animals and brought their nightly
drink to them. They were fast asleep, but I did not like to disturb them, nor
would give any part of the milk to my children and other members of the family
till after my parents had their drink. Thus, with the vessel in hand, I awaited
their awakening till the flush of dawn, while the children cried out of hunger
at my feet. When they woke up, they had their drink. O Lord, if I did this
thing seeking only your pleasure, then do relieve us of the distress wrought
upon us by this rock."
Thereupon, the rock moved a little but not enough
to let them pass out.
Then the second man supplicated: "O
Lord, I had a cousin that I loved more passionately than any man could love a
woman. I tried to seduce her but she would refuse, till in a season of great
hardship due to famine, she approached me (for help) and I gave her one hundred
and twenty Dinars on the condition that she would have sexual intercourse with
me. She agreed, and when we got together and I was just going to have
intercourse with her, she pleaded, 'Fear Allah, and do not break the seal
unlawfully', whereupon I moved away from her, despite the fact that I desired
her most passionately; and I let her keep the money I had given her. O Lord, if
I did this thing seeking only your pleasure, then do move the distress in which
we find ourselves."
Again the rock moved a little but not enough to
let them pass out.
Then the third supplicated: "O Lord, I
hired some labourers and paid them their dues, but one of them left leaving
behind what was due to him. I invested it in business and the business
prospered greatly.
After a while, the labourer came back and said: 'O
servant of Allah, hand over to me my wages.' I said to him: 'All that you see
is yours; camels, cattle, goats and slaves." He said: 'Don't play joke
with me, O servant of Allah.' I assured him: 'I am not joking.' So he took all
of it sparing nothing. O Lord, if I did this seeking only for your pleasure, do
relieve us of our distress."
The rock then moved away, and all the three came
out of the cave safe and sound.
3.
Unintended Praise from Public: In Islam it is not desirable to seek fame and praises to boost our achievements. However for people who are sincere and continue doing good deeds often get noticed by people and they start praising him / her on their own. This publicity is not degraded; Companions of Prophet Mohammed sas asked him: A persons does a good deed and people start praising him without him asking for it; Prophet replied : This is a blessing in advance (Muslim)
Similarly in another narration by Abu Huraira RA said A person does a good deed and keep it secret, but people
came to know about it. He feel happiness. Prophet said: he will have two
rewards, one for secrecy and other for its getting revealed.
4. Devil has no control:
Devil has challenged to make the mankind astray however he will not have any control over the people who are sincere as they will not be an easy pray for him. Quran says Iblis said: "My Lord! In the manner You led me to error, I will make things on earth seem attractive to them and lead all of them to error, (39) except those of Your servants whom (are sincere) You have singled out for Yourself." (15:40)
5. Reward even with no actions:
When one intend to do something sincerely but for some reasons he could not make it, Allah will reward him for the deed even without him doing it entirely due to his sincere intentions; Narrated by Abu Darda RA A person lie down for rest with an intention to wake up for Night prayers, but couldn’t wake up. He will get his rewards as per his intention and the sleep will be a bonus for him. (Nisai & Ibn Maja)
6. Martyrdom:
If a person intend to die as a Martyr but couldn’t achieve martyrdom; Allah will reward him as narrated in Hadith by Sohail bin Hanif RA He Who sought martyrdom with sincerity will be ranked by Allah among the martyrs even if he died on his bed (Muslim)
7. Sins wiped out:
If we make an habit of doing efforts hiding from the limelight then Allah will forgive and purify us from the sins as Quran said If you practice charity publicly, it is good; but if you give charity secretly to the needy, it is much better for you, for this will expiate many of your sins. Anyhow, Allah is well aware of whatever you do. (2:271)
8. Allah’s Love:
As narrated in a hadith Prophet SAS said Allah loves the servant who is God-conscious and is free from want and is hidden (from the view of people). Muslim
Insincere
deeds will be rejected
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: I am the One, One Who does not stand in need of a partner. If anyone does anything in which he associates anyone else with Me, I shall abandon him with one whom he associates with Allah (Muslim)
In another tradition Abu Huraira RA narrated: Yes. I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ
Hence we should always try to be
sincere towards Allah and intend to do all the works to please Him as he will
not accept any deed which is done for the pleasure of anyone besides him
یعنی اے اللہ مجھے اپنی نگاہوں میں چھوٹا اور دوسروں کی نگاہوں میں معزز کردے
Oh Allah, make me inherently and permanently small in my
own eyes and make me inherently and permanently great in the eyes of others. Aameen
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