The Core Of Action- Sincerity Of Intention:

Be Sincere In Your Aim And You Will Find The Support Of Allah Surrounding You:

Sincerity towards Allah is the best type of sincerity. The Muslim is being sincere towards his Lord if he achieves sincerity in three aspects:

Faith and proper belief

Acts of obedience

Morals and manners.

Faith does not mean mere wishful thinking. The one who is sincere in his faith is the one who attains faith in the way his Lord wants from him, which includes sincerity in faith, sincerity in intention, and sincerity in fear of Allah, may He be exalted. Not every act of obedience is sincere unless it is done, both outwardly and inwardly, in a manner which Allah likes.

Intention Is The Core Of Every Act In Islam:

Some actions without intention are invalid. Intention (niyyah) is what gives value to one’s action. A robot could be made to do much service, but what it does is only mechanical. Value, praise and reward are concepts that apply to when there is a pure and good intention behind an action.

The same act by two individuals can have two completely opposite religious values due to their intentions, even though their acts are exactly the same outwardly. For example, when a Believer enters a room, a person may stand up as an expression of honour, while another person may stand up as an expression of derision.

About eternal reward and punishment in the Hereafter, we read in Hadith: ‘The inhabitants of the Fire will stay there forever because their intention was to disobey God if they were to live forever; and the inhabitants of the Garden will stay there forever because their intention was to obey God if they were to live forever. Hence, both groups will stay in their abodes eternally because of their intentions.

Hazrat Ali(A.S) referred to the same idea when he said, ‘O people! Indeed what gathers people [in the same group and class] is their satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Indeed only one person killed the she-camel of Thamud, but God included all of them in His punishment because they included themselves by their satisfaction.’

Satisfaction to the sin of others is itself a sin, but what makes it equal to the sinner’s act in terms of degree, intensity and the deserved punishment, is if this satisfaction is indicative of the same inner realisation and inclination in the two individuals.

There are many Hadith’s that identify satisfaction as the reason for why future generations may be blamed or punished because of the acts of their forefathers, as seen in the Qur’an.

Imam al-Ṣadiq said, "On the Day of Resurrection, God will raise the people based on their intentions."

Sincerity (ikhlaṣ) is the pinnacle of monotheism and the highest stage of Faith, especially when it advances from being the quality of one’s action to being the quality of one’s essence and being.

Sincerity is the state of not being motivated by anything other than God. It is based on the realisation – not just a mental realisation but a spiritual and existential one – that nothing other than God can benefit, harm, pay or take away. It is when one reaches a state of certainty about God’s prevailing decree and His sure promises.

Thus, sincerity is the combination of God-reliance (Tawakkul) and certitude (Yaqin). That is what makes one not fear or hope anything or anyone other than God, and not act for the pleasure or satisfaction of anyone other than the One.

"So whoever expects to encounter his Lord – let him act righteously, and not associate anyone with the worship of his Lord" (Qur’an 18:110).

Sincerity or (Ikhlas) is action and then perseverance on it is the highest station of love and servitude to Allah. The sincerity of intention is one of the best deeds of the heart.

Quran Ayat About Sincerity Of Intention:

In fact, Islam is all about sincerity of Intention. Allah(swt) says: "And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth."(Quran 98:5).

Say, “I am commanded to worship Allah, being sincerely devoted to Him ˹alone".

" Say, “It is ˹only˺ Allah that I worship, being sincere in my devotion to Him".

Hadith On Sincerity Of Intention To Allah:

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (RA) said: “It was said to the Messenger of Allah (SAW): ‘Which of the people is best?’ He said: ‘Everyone who is pure of heart and sincere in speech.’ They said: ‘Sincere in speech, we know what this is, but what is pure of heart?’ He said: ‘It is (the heart) that is pious and pure, with no sin, injustice, rancor or envy in it.’”

Umar bin Al Khattab reported the Apostle of Allah(ﷺ) as saying “Actions are to be judged only by intentions and a man will have only what he intended. When one’s emigration is to Allah and His Apostle, his emigration is to Allah and His Apostle but his emigration is to a worldly end at which he aims or to a woman whom he marries , his emigration is to that for which he emigrated.

Allah has described the sincere in one verse, in which He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allah) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masaakeen (the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and gives the Zakât, and who fulfil their covenant when they make it, and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles).” Then Allah says, after listing all these attributes: “Such are the people of the truth and they are Al‑Muttaqoon (the pious)”.[al-Baqarah 2:177].

Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

This verse includes a number of great meanings, important principles and sound beliefs.

You should note that sincerity with Allah is not something that we can make a show of and convince ourselves of whilst abandoning righteous deeds.

Rather sincerity towards Allah is in the intention and in the action when we do it and when the means of doing it become available. The one who is sincere towards his Lord will, by means of the sincerity of his intention, attain that (reward) which the one who does the action attains, if something keeps him from doing the action.

It was narrated from Sahl ibn Hunayf (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever sincerely asks Allah for martyrdom, Allah will cause him to attain the status of the martyrs, even if he dies in his bed.” (Narrated by Muslim, 1909).

Sincerity In Learning Knowledge:

It was narrated from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdillah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Do not seek knowledge in order to show off in front of the scholars or to argue with the foolish, or to choose the best seat in a gathering because of it, for whoever does that, the Fire, the Fire (awaits him).” Narrated by Ibn Maajah (254).

The apparent meaning of the Hadith indicates that the person who learns about Islam for the purpose of arguing with the foolish is given warning of punishment, because he has not fulfilled the condition of sincerity when learning about Islam; rather his only aim is to learn how to argue.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “Whoever seeks knowledge that should be sought for the sake of Allah, but he only seeks it for the sake of some worldly gain, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection.”Narrated by Abu Dawood (3664).

The sincere and sound intention when seeking knowledge should be to act upon it oneself, then to teach it to people and convey it to them, and to take Islamic teachings to those who are not aware of them, then to ward off the aggression of the transgressors and the misinterpretation of the evildoers.

Allah (swt)says (interpretation of the meaning):“For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn their people when they return to them that they might be cautious”.(at-Tawbah 9:122)

“So do not obey the disbelievers, and strive against them with the Qur’an a great striving”.(Al-Furqaan 25:52).

Shaykh ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan as-Sa’di (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“A Great Striving” i.e., do not spare any effort to support the truth and suppress falsehood; even if you see them rejecting you and treating you rudely, still do your utmost and do not despair of them being guided; do not stop conveying the message to them just because it does not suit their whims and desires.( Tafseer as-Sa‘di :pg.585).

So whoever learns with the intention of refuting the specious arguments of the disbelievers and advising the Muslims, this is a sound intention.

Advice For A Beginner Who Is A Seeker Of Knowledge:

Every person make his intention sincerely for the sake of Allah (swt) and not to let his aim when seeking knowledge be the pursuit of leadership, prominence or wealth. Rather his aim should be to alleviate ignorance from himself and from others, to adhere to the straight path, and to defend it and protect it. This is the best thing.

If he needs to argue and debate whilst calling people to Allah, there is nothing wrong with that, because that is not the aim of his learning; rather it is a means of conveying the message. But he must argue in the way that is best, and within Islamic guidelines.

Allah (swt) says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided”.

(An-Nahl 16:125).

Let your call to all people, Muslims and disbelievers, inviting them to the straight path of your Lord, which includes beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds, be with wisdom , addressing each according to his situation and ability to understand, and the level of his acceptance and submission.

If the person to whom the call is addressed thinks that what he is following is truth or if he is a promoter of falsehood, then the caller to Islam should reason with him in the most courteous manner. These are the ways which are more likely to bring a response, according to both reason and the texts.

One way of doing that is to use evidence that he believes is sound, because this is more likely to achieve the goal and not lead to argument or trading of insults, which will defeat the purpose and is of no benefit. Rather the aim is to guide people to the truth, not to prove them wrong and the like.

Allah (swt) says (interpretation of the meaning):

“So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone”(al-Kahf 18:22).

It was narrated that Jundub ibn ‘Abdillah al-Azdi, the companion of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The likeness of the scholar who teaches people good and forgets himself is that of a lamp which gives light to the people but burns itself.”

Narrated by at-Tabaraani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabeer (2/165-166).

Abu Musa reported: A man asked the Prophet and he said, “A man may fight to be courageous, and another may fight for zeal, and another may fight to show off. So which of those is fighting in the cause of Allah?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: He who fights to raise the word of Allah is in the way of Allah. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 123)

Ibn Hajar commented on this tradition, saying:

The meaning of the ‘word of Allah’ is the invitation to Islam. It is interpreted to mean that jihad would not be in the cause of Allah unless the purpose is only to raise the word of Allah, such that if anyone were to add another reason to it that would violate it. (Source: Fatḥ al-Bārī 6/28)

Abu Bakrah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"If two Muslims confront each other with swords, both the killer and the killed will be in Hellfire".

It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, we understand for killer, but why for the one killed?” The Prophet said: "Verily, he intended to kill his companion."

(Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6672)

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah(saw)said:

"Verily, Allah has recorded good and evil deeds and he made them clear. Whoever intends to perform a good deed but does not do it, Allah will record it as a complete good deed. If he intends to do it and does so, Allah Almighty will record it as ten good deeds, up to seven hundred times as much or even more. If he intends to do an evil deed and does not do it, Allah will record for him one complete good deed. If he does it, Allah will record for him a single evil deed".

(Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6126)

Allah said:

"Iblis [Satan] then said to Allah, ‘Because You have put me in the wrong, I will lure mankind on earth and put them in the wrong, all except Your devoted servants."

No one is safe from Satan unless their intentions are sincere.

Al-Ghazali comments on this verse, “Hence, the servant is not freed from Satan except by sincerity.”

Moreover, sincerity is the essential quality that guards our hearts and protects us from the delusions of malice or the treachery of evil spiritual forces.

Allah wants people’s hearts; he does not want servants forced into hypocritical and empty worship. Sincerity is the virtue of honesty and truthfulness.

As Al-Susi, May Allah have mercy on him, said, “Allah only desires sincerity in the deeds of his creatures.”

Allah said:"You who believe, be mindful of Allah: stand with those who are true."

Shahr bin Hawshab said:

“I said to Umm Salamah: ‘O Mother of the Believers! What was the supplication that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said most frequently when he was with you?” She said: ‘The supplication he said most frequently was: “O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion (Yā Muqallibal-qulūb, thabbit qalbī `alā dīnik).’” She said: ‘So I said: “O Messenger of Allah, why do you supplicate so frequently: ‘O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.’ He said: ‘O Umm Salamah! Verily, there is no human being except that his heart is between Two Fingers of the Fingers of Allah, so whomsoever He wills He makes steadfast, and whomever He wills He causes to deviate.’”(Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3522).

JazakAllah (May Allah reward you with goodness)for reading.

Kindly Follow & subscribe to receive latest insightful stories by email.