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Sincerity in Islam

Ikhlas (Sincerity):
A form of worship that is performed by the heart.
Sincerity is achieved when Muslim brothers or sisters have the intention to please Allah
Almighty in all their endeavours whether in speech or action. The Muslim seeks generous
rewards from Allah Almighty without considering any other motives. He or she does not try to
gain worldly favours in terms of self promotion or personal interests. In this way, the Muslim
will always serve the Islamic faith and thought, rather than being subservient to short term
benefits.
Allah does not Look at your Body and Face; Rather He Looks at Your Heart [Muslim]
Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for God,
the Cherisher of the Worlds. (6:162)
Riyaa (showing off)
Riyaa is taken from the word ruyah (to be seen); it's foundation is doing actions of goodness
and piety so that people see them or hear of them, in order to win their praise and admiration,
to gain position and status amongst them and to obtain the goals and objectives of this world.
The Prophet Muhammad PBUH said "What I fear for you the most is the minor shirk, that is
ar-riyaa. Allah will say on the Day of Judgement when He is rewarding the people for their
actions: Go to those for whom you did riyaa for in the world then see if you find the reward
with them." [Ahmad]
The Messenger (PBUH) also said: "Whoever learnt knowledge by which the Face of Allah,
SWT, should be sought, but did not learn it except to gain a portion of the world will NOT
smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Judgement." (Abu Dawood, saheeh isnad).
Three categories of people will be the first to be thrown into Hell-Fire: a scholar who taught
people merely to be praised as a scholar; a generous person who gave charity just to be
called generous; and a person who participates in Jihad to be recognized as brave. [Muslim]
Quranic Verses:
Say: Verily, I am commanded to serve God with sincere devotion; and I am commanded to
be the first of those who bow to God in Islam.(Az-Zumar: 11-12)
"And they were not commanded except to worship Allah making the Deen (Islam) sincerely
for Him and being upright and true (in faith), to establish regular prayer and to practise regular
charity. That is the right and straight deen." (98:5)
Ahadeeth (narrations of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH):
"Indeed actions are (judged) by the intentions (behind them) and every man shall receive
(only) that which he intended". (part of a hadeeth reported in Bukhari & Muslim)
Whoever leaves this world with sincerity to Allah Almighty, the One and Only, and performs
the prayers and pays the Zakah will die in the pleasure of Allah.( Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Any act / deed in life MUST have two great matters fulfilled in order to be accepted by
Allah SWT:
1. Ikhlas (Sincerity). That the one who performed the action desired nothing but the
Face of Allaah, Azza wa Jall, by it
2. According to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SWT, i.e. the action is in
agreement with what Allah the Exalted has legislated in His Book or His Messenger
(saw) has explained in his Sunnah.

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"And we shall turn to whatever actions they did and make them into scattered dust". (25:23)
'Aa'ishah (ra) said, "Allaah's Messenger (saw) said: "Whoever introduces into this affair of
ours something that does not belong to it, will have it rejected." (Muslim).
How to obtain sincerity?
1. Obtaining / Seeking knowledge.
2. Dua:
a. Alahuma Er-zukni al-ikhlaas fi al-kawl wa-al-amal
b. O Allah, forgive me for what they do not know about me, and make me better
than what they think of me.
3. Ask yourself: am I doing this to please Allah Almighty and to seek His Forgiveness
and reward, or am I doing it to impress people and seek their praise? If you have any
doubt about the sincerity of that task, then you should renew your intention and
remember the hadeeth qudsi reported by Muslim, Allah SWT says "I am so selfsufficient that I am in no need of having partners. Thus whoever does an action
for someone else's sake as well as Mine, will have that action rejected by Me to
him whom he associated with Me." (Muslim).
4. After completing an assignment or a job, do not continue to boast about your role in it.
Signs of Sincerity
To have good intentions before starting a task.
To perfect ones duty in private and in public.
To dislike being praised by others.
To welcome advice from friends.
To not seek leadership and not nominate yourself for positions of authority.
To be constantly mindful of ones shortcomings, and to advise or wish others well.
To feel that your contribution is minimal compared to others.
To prefer giving charity in secret.
Examples of being sincere
Our Prophet (SAWS) told us about a man who told the Prophet that he wanted to die for the
sake of Allah and specified the location of the arrow that would kill him, so the Prophet told
him that if he was honest to Allah then it will happen. It was true, as they found him dead after
a war and hit by an arrow in the exact same location he pointed at, so the Prophet buried him
and prayed for him as well.
Should the Muslim Abandon an Action Due to Fear of Riyaa?
Leaving an action out of fear of falling into riyaa' is one of the biggest mistakes and ways of
falling into the trap of Shaytaan. If the intent and motive for an action is correct and righteous
and it is in agreement with what has been legislated then the action should never be
abandoned due to the presence of the danger of riyaa'. Rather it is obligatory upon the
Muslim to strive against this threat and danger. This is achieved by making his heart cling to
modesty in front of Allaah and fear of Him, changing the praise and admiration of creation for
His praise and admiration.

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Sunday 4 Dec, 2011.

Helpers of Islam Group [HIG] &
Serving Islam Team (Hong Kong)
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