THE NECESSITY OF IKHLAS (SINCERITY) IN DEEDS
All praises and thanks are due to Alláh, Lord of all that exists. I bear witness that none except Him has the right to be worshipped, Alone with sincerity in the religion. I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s slave and Messenger and His truthful and trustworthy Messenger. May Allah’s peace and blessings be on Muhammad, his progeny, his Companions and all those who followed them perfectly until the Day of Resurrection.
O Muslims! Fear Alláh the Exalted and hold to Ikhlas (sincerity) for Alláhs Face in your actions and statements. Al-Bukhári and Muslim narrated that ‘Umar said, “I heard the Messenger of Alláh (pbuh) say:
“Verily, the reward of deeds depends upon the Niyyah (intentions) and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.”
Therefore, every action that was not performed for Alláh’s Sake only, is annulled and fruitless in this life and the Hereafter.
There are two implications for the word Niyyah according to the scholars. One of them pertains to distinguishing acts of worship from acts of habit. For instance, there is a difference between taking a bath to remove impurity and taking a bath to cool off or to clean the body. Further, there is a different Niyyah for Zhur prayer than Asr prayer and fasting during Ramadhán in contrast to fasting in other months.
The second meaning for Niyyah pertains to distinguishing between the intention behind the act, if it is directed to Alláh Alone or to Alláh and others. This meaning carries with it happiness or misery and reward or punishment. Two different persons might perform the same act, paying equal effort to it. Yet, one of them earns a reward whíle the other earns no reward, or even punishment, because the intentions were different in each case. Alláh the Exalted said:
“Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein disgraced and rejected (far away from Allah’s Mercy). And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it (i.e. does righteous deeds of Allah’s obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Alláh – Islamic Monotheism) – then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, (thanked and rewarded by Alláh).” (17:18,19)
Some scholars said that this is why people vary in grades; it is in accordance with the intentions behind their actions, not because of merely fasting and praying. For instance, Hijrah (migration) from the area of Kufr (disbelief) to the area of Islam is one of the best righteous deeds there are. But it will truly be a Hijrah by having the intention in the heart to do so (in Alláh’s Cause), not just because one departs from one area to another for worldly purpose or for no particular reason. The Messenger of Alláh(pbuh) said:
“So whoever emigrated to Alláh and His Messenger, then his migration was to Alláh and His Messenger. And whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his migration was for what he emigrated for.”
In this Hadith, the Prophet(pbuh) states that Hijrah depends on the intention and Niyyah behind it. Therefore, whoever emigrated to the land of Islam on account of his love for Alláh and His Messenger(pbuh), to learn Islam and be able to practice it in public, since he was unable to do so in the land of Shirk, then he truthfully emigrated to Alláh and His Messenger(pbuh). Alláh has promised great rewards from Him for this righteous act.
As for he who ernigrates frorn the land of Shirk to the land of Islam seeking wordily benefits or for the purpose of marrying a certain woman, then he did not emigrate for Alláh and His Messenger. Rather, he is a merchant or seeker of marriage, When the Prophet(pbuh) was asked about the different intentions behind fighting, such as showing off and being courageous to defend one’s tribe, and so forth, he gave this answer:
“He who fights so that Alláh’s word is the highest, then he is fighting in the Cause of Alláh.”
Further, An-Nasa’i narrated from Abu Umamah, that a man came to the Prophet(pbuh) and asked him, “What about a man who joined Jihád to earn reward, as weII as fame? What will he earn?” The Messenger of Alláh said, “Nothing.” He (pbuh) then said:
“Verily, Alláh only accepts what was performed in sincerity to Him seeking His Face.”
There is no doubt that dying as a martyr in Alláhs Cause, learning beneficial knowledge and teaching it and spending money in Alláhs Cause are some of the best righteous deeds there are and the hardest to perform. When one’s intention behind performing any of these acts is corrupt, he will earn the Fire! Muslim narrated that Abu Hurairah said that he heard the Prophet(pbuh) say:
“The first person who a sentence passed against him will be found guilty on the Day of Resurrection, is a man who died as a Shahid (martyr). He will be summoned, and Alláh will remind him of His bounties on him, and he will attest to them. Alláh will ask him, ‘What have you done in return?’ The man will say, ‘1 fought for Your Sake, until 1 died as a Shahid.’ Alláh will say, ‘You have said a lie! You only fought so that it will be said, ‘He is brave,’ and it was said (meaning, you have received your payment)!’ Then, he will be sentenced to be dragged on his face until he is thrown in the Fire. Also, a man who learned knowledge and taught it, and who also read the Qurán, will be summoned, and Alláh will remind him of His bounties on him, and he will attest to them. Alláh will ask him, ‘What have you done as regards to them?’ He will say, ‘1 have learned knowledge and taught it, and I also read the Qur’án for Your sake.’ Alláh will reply, ‘You have said a lie! You only learned (the knowledge) so that it will be said, ‘Aalim (a scholar)’, and you have read the Qur’án so that it will be said, ‘Qarii (a reader of the Qurán).’ And it was said!’ He will be sentenced to be dragged on his face until he is thrown in the Fire. And a man whom Alláh has given abundance (in wealth and provisions) and different types of possessions will be summoned and Alláh will remind him of His bounties on him and he will attest to them. Alláh will ask him, ‘What have you done in regards to them?’ He will reply, ‘I left no path that You like spending on, but I spent on it for Your sake.’ Alláh will reply, ‘You have said a líe! You only spent so it will be said, ‘He is generous.’ and it was said.’ Then he will be dragged on his face until he is thrown into the Fire.”
When Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan heard this Hadith, he cried and said, “Alláh and His Messenger(pbuh) have said the truth.”
“Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter, to them We shall pay in full (the wages of) their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire.” (11: 15,16)
Imam Ibn Rajab said:
“Know that performing deeds for other than Alláh is of different types. Sometimes, this action might be to show off in its entirety, and thus, one seeks to be seen by the creation for a worldly gain. For example, this is the state that the hypocrites pray in.”
Just as Alláh described them:
“And when they stand up for As-Salat (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen by men.” (4: 142)
Further, Alláh described the acts of the disbelievers as being all for
showing off, when He said:
“And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen by men.” (8:47)
The boasting and showing off described here rarely appears in the prayer and fasting performed by a believer. Yet, showing off might appear in their acts of charity and Hajj, because these latter acts are carried out in public and bring benefit to people, making it hard to observe perfect sincerity while performing them. However, if showing off appears in these acts, it will annul them and earn one Alláh ‘ s anger and torment, as is known to Muslims. Sometimes, the act might be for Alláh and is mixed with showing off. In this case, there are authentic texts asserting that if the intention of showing off was present at the time one intended to perform a righteous act, the act itself will be annulled and fruitless. But when the act was started to gain Alláhs reward alone, but changed later on to include an intention to partially show off, then it will not annul the act, provided one repels such thoughts.
Therefore, O slaves of Allah! Worship Alláh Alone in sincerity and stay away from Riyá’ (showing off) and evil intentions. Alláh does not look at your shapes and wealth, but rather at your hearts and actions.
Know that the slave will be helped towards Ikhlas (sincerity) when he performs a righteous deed in confidence between him and his Lord. This way, the act will be easily steered away from Riyá’ (showing off). The Prophet(pbuh) said in an authentic Hadith, that among the seven whom Alláh shades under His Shade, on a Day when there will be only His Shade:
” …A man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e., nobody knows how much he has given in charity).”
In addition, Alláh said:
“If you disclose your Sadaqát (alms giving), it is well: but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, that is better for you. (Alláh) will absolve you of your sins.” (2:271)
When a believer gives away charity for a good cause, he should not agree that his name be announced to the public, such as in newspapers, unless the purpose is to encourage others to pay for this and other charitable causes, or if his name is announced without his knowledge. Further, when some people build a mosque, they have a statement written on its door declaring that so-and-so ‘generous person’ built this mosque from his money. This is not proper conduct and might spoil one’s good deed, especially if he or she sought to preserve the memory of his or her generosity!
So, fear Alláh, O Alláh’s slaves, and perform all good deeds for His Sake alone:
“Say (O Muhammad (pbuh)): “I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that your Iláh (God) is One Iláh (Alláh), So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” (18:110)
May Alláh direct us and you to the blessings of the Glorious Qurán and benefit us and you with whatever is in it of the Ayal and Wise Dhikr, I say this and ask Alláh the Great, Most Honored for forgiveness for me, you and all Muslims for every sin. Invoke Him for forgiveness, for He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
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