It is one the functions of the heart which is part of your Imaan – it is one of the jobs of the heart. It needs to be looked after because it is one of the most important actions which manifests in your tongue and limbs. Unless you seek to please Allah (SWT) exclusively you will never reach the level of sincerity. See [EMQ 98: 5]
‘And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give Zakât: and that is the right religion.’
The linguistic meaning of Al-Ikhlaas
Al-Ikhlaas is derived from the word KHALASA – which means anything free from any defection i.e. pure. So you reach what you want without any impurity i.e. any deed you do purely for the sake of Allah (SWT) i.e. your salaat, Jihad, daw’ah etc… these will never be accepted unless it’s purely for the sake of Allah (SWT). We can also use the word Khaalis with milk, water etc… but in deeds it means it’s purely for the sake of Allah (SWT). We mean that his action is pure and free from any riyaa’ (showing off).
Tawheed has been defined as Ifraad ul-Ibaadah Lillah or worshipping Allah (SWT) exclusively – obeying, submitting and following Allah (SWT) exclusively. Al-Ikhlaas is one of the names of Tawheed – this is also the names of one of the chapters of the Qur’an. Ikhlaas is sincerity in the exclusive worship of Allah (SWT). Hence every Ikhlaas is Tawheed and vice versa. When we say Laa Ilaaha Illalah – we mean there is no one worthy to be obeyed/worshipped except Allah (SWT) – and I do it sincerely for his sake. Hence the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said ‘Allah (SWT) does not accept any of your deeds unless you do them exclusively for Allah (SWT)’
The Ikhlaas of the people, like the purity of the milk or honey, is not of the same level from person to person.
Al-Ikhlaas is to target to please Allah (SWT) in your own salaat, Tawheed etc… exclusively. Hence the Ulema say various things about the meaning of Ikhlaas. They say it’s the action for the sake of Allah (SWT) with which no one shares exclusively.
Allah (SWT) says: ‘I have been ordered to worship Allah (SWT) exclusively and sincerely for Allah (SWT)’
It’s been reported by Abdullah Ibn Masoud (ra) that Ikhlaas is – ‘to purify the action from seeking the attention of the people’
The one who does this is called Mukhlis – the sincere person, and he will consequently become the pure person. He does not care what his status is in the heart of the people as long as Allah (SWT) is pleased with him. Hence Islam forbids you to know what people say about you, as long as what you do is for the sake of Allah (SWT). He is also the one who does not want the people to even see what he did. But Allah (SWT) also asks you to give a report to the people so that they may be corrected – and yet you must to maintain your sincerity in such circumstances – thence sincerity can be the most difficult thing to maintain.
The Usuli definition of Al-Ikhlaas:
WHATEVER YOU MEANT OR TARGETED IN YOUR WORSHIP PURELY FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH (SWT)
Allah (SWT) says ‘Say (O Muhammad): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists). "He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims."[EMQ 6: 162-163]
This is evidence for the definition of sincerity.But someone could ask – what about in trade? We target profit? But, as long as you do so for the sake of Allah (SWT) it’s still sincere.
The conditions for actions to be only for the sake of Allah (SWT)
Al-Amal Al-Khaalis – the pure action. This is the action
1. Based on the shari'ah purely for the sake of Allah (SWT). Because someone could do kufr ‘for the sake of Allah (SWT)’ like giving an oath of allegiance to the queen, or stealing money to pay the Mujahideen etc…
2. You target no status in the minds and the hearts of the people.
Allah (SWT) says ‘The Day that Ar-Rûh [Jibraeel (Gabriel) or another angel] and the angels will stand forth in rows, none shall speak except him whom the Most Beneficent (Allâh) allows, and he will speak what is right.’ [EMQ 78: 38]
And ‘And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allâh (i.e. follows Allâh's Religion of Islâmic Monotheism); and he is a Muhsin [Al-Ihsaan is to follow the Sunnah all the time]. And follows the religion of IbrâhimHanifa. And Allâh did take Ibrâhim as a Khalil.’[EMQ 4: 125]
Hence the knowledge is very important as well – sincerity by itself is not enough. So the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said:
‘The believers are a failure except those who know among them, and those who know are a failure except those who act upon it, and those who do it are a failure except those who do so purely for the sake of Allah (SWT) and those who do so are in great danger because shaytaan could change them at the last moment.’
Look at Kirkara, he accompanied the Messenger Muhammad (saw) and used to carry his belongings for him, however he took a cloak from a mushrik in the battlefield at the last moment and subsequently died from an arrow. When the Sahabah (ra) said that he was shaheed the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said ‘No he is in hellfire, look at the cloak he has stolen!
The sincerity is so important to the extent that some people used to wear a niqaab so that no one could see them and that they might do an action purely for the sake of Allah (SWT).
Allah (SWT) says:
‘And keep yourself (O Muhammad) patiently with those who call on their Lord (i.e. your companions who remember their Lord with glorification, praising in prayers, etc., and other righteous deeds, etc.) morning and afternoon, seeking His Face, and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lusts and whose affair (deeds) has been lost.’ [EMQ 18: 28]
Hence the opposite to Al-Ikhlaas is Al-Riyaa’ – which is the hidden Shirk.
A man once came to the Messenger Muhammad (saw) and he saw him lead the Sahabah (ra) in prayer with small chapters – but when he prayed alone he would read the whole Qur’an. Similarly when Imam Shaafi led he would read small chapters but in Qiyyam ul-Layl he would read the whole Qur’an in each rakat. Uthmaan Bin Affaan (ra) used to read the whole Qur’an in every rakat in Ramadan when alone, and so on... We can therefore understand when the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said ‘The most hypocritical in my Ummah are the Qaaris (recitors of the Qur’an)’.
Allah (SWT) tells us that the one who shows off will be punished, see
‘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; and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do.’[EMQ Hud: 15-16]
And ‘And man invokes (Allâh) for evil as he invokes (Allâh) for good and man is ever hasty [i.e., if he is angry with somebody, he invokes (saying): "O Allâh! Curse him, etc." and that one should not do, but one should be patient].’[EMQ Isra: 11]
NB. Sincerity is so emphasised that the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said that even if you take the booty which is halal for you (from the Khalifah) then 2/3rds of the reward of your Jihad would have been lost – which is why the Mujahideen often give up their share of the booty for the sake of Allah (SWT) in Jihad.
In addition Allah (SWT) says ‘Whosoever desires (with his deeds) the reward of the Hereafter, We give him increase in his reward, and whosoever desires the reward of this world (with his deeds), We give him thereof (what is written for him), and he has no portion in the Hereafter.’[EMQ 42: 20]
And ‘And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh. and Allâh is Muhîtun (encircling and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do’[EMQ 8: 47]
In the battle of Uhud, Allah (SWT) wanted to purify the believers to see who would act for the sake of Allah (SWT) and who for the Dunya. See
‘And Allâh did indeed fulfil His Promise to you when you were killing them (your enemy) with His Permission; until (the moment) you lost your courage and fell to disputing about the order, and disobeyed after He showed you (of the booty) which you love. Among you are some that desire this world and some that desire the Hereafter. Then He made you flee from them (your enemy), that He might test you. But surely, He forgave you, and Allâh is Most Gracious to the believers.’[EMQ 3: 152]
It is narrated in Muslim upon the authority of Omar bin Al-Khattaab (ra) that the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said ‘Actions are based on the intention, for every person is his own intention’
And the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said ‘The one who goes to Jihad but has no intention except for the rope of a camel he will get that but if it’s for the sake of Allah (SWT) he will get that’
What is the importance of Ikhlaas?
1.When someone does something exclusively for Allah (SWT) he will be saved from hellfire on the day of judgement and will be eligible for Jannah. He will get tranquillity in the Dunya. That’s why he will be happy walking in the street despite the people might be despising him. His heart will be free from any concerns in the Dunya.
It is narrated in Tirmizi that the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said – ‘Whoever’s concern was only to please Allah (SWT), Allah (SWT) will make him content. Whoever had the Akhirah his concern Allah (SWT) will make him rich and whoever’s concern was the Dunya Allah (SWT) will make his poverty in his eyes and his family dispersed and he will never take from the Dunya except what Allah (SWT) has designated’
Hadith - ‘Whatever you spend only for the sake of Allah (SWT) you get reward.’
NB. If you seek to please your wife or your mother, yes you will please them alone.
2.The sincerity will save you from punishment on the day of judgement.
Hadith ‘on the day of judgement Allah (SWT) will fuel the hellfire with the following types of people – those who gave to be called generous, one who recited to be called good recitor, one who learned to get reputation, one who fought to be called brave’
Abu Hurairah (ra) used to cry as did the Messenger Muhammad (saw). Abu Hurairah (ra) was worried because he used to teach this hadith to others.
Hadith – the Messenger Muhammad (saw) ‘the one who seeks knowledge which people usually learn for the sake of Allah (SWT) and yet he learns it for then Dunya he will never smell Jannah.’
NB. He did it only for the sake of the Dunya or money or reputation.
Muslim – Abu Hurairah (ra) – the Messenger Muhammad (saw) ‘The one who seeks Ilm to justify for the corrupted people or to challenge the Ulema or for people to give attention for him, Allah (SWT) will put him in hellfire’
3. Sincerity will also make people free from those of whom Allah (SWT) will say on the day of judgement ‘go to those you used to show off to, see if they will give you reward’ when they will ask Allah (SWT) for help.
4. It will save you from having less reward from what you deserve. Hence the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said to a man who went to Jihad and wanted reward from Allah (SWT) but also that the people remember him as a mujaahid, that he would get no reward on the day of judgement (3 times) and ‘Allah (SWT) does not accept any of your deeds except that which was purely for his sake’
Hence one judgement between people by the haq is better than 40 decades raining.
5. It is the foundation of all the functions of the heart. In fact all the deeds must be based on this. Even the actions of the tongue and limbs.
‘And We shall turn to whatever deeds they (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust.’[EMQ Furqan: 23]
Someone could give a huge amount and it will amount to nothing, whereas another could give a small amount and get a lot for it.
6. It will protect the man from himself and also from his shaytaan. Because shaytaan said
‘[Iblîs (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! Because you misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all. Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them." ’[EMQ 15: 40]
The beneficial outcomes of Sincerity
1. He will always have pure intention and distinguish between habit and worship. The Sincerity will make the mubah to worship – like drinking water. The habits which are mubah will become worship. If you wear perfume as a matter of respect to Allah (SWT) and his house and not to harm the angels or the Muslims, he will get the reward. Hence Imam Shaafi said ‘I like to have intention in every action.’ Hence it will distinguish between Ibaadat and habits. Someone may pray as a habit – others will be shaken because he is going to meet his lord.
2. Forgiveness from all sins – i.e. if both (i) Based on shari’ah and (ii) Purely for the sake of Allah (SWT).
Hadith – the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said ‘Allah (SWT) says ‘If you fear Allah (SWT) he will make for you furqan i.e. target the haq and keep away from falsehood’
For example a bad woman saw a dog which was not able to reach its provision. She said Laa Ilaaha Illalah and went down into the well and with that sincerity, it was enough for her to carry the card of forgiveness on the day of judgement. There are ahadith of the card: on the day of judgement people will come with all sins and one man will come with a card with Laa Ilaaha Illalah on it, said sincerely from his heart, and Allah (SWT) will forgive all hiss sins and let him enter Jannah
3. See [EMQ 8: 29] it will make you know the right from the wrong. Allah (SWT) says: ‘O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allâh, He will grant you Furqân a criterion [(to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. making a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you, and Allâh is the Owner of the Great Bounty.
4. He will reach the level of the shahadah – see ‘Nor (is there blame)on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, and when you said: "I can find no mounts for you," they turned back, while their eyes overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend (for Jihâd).’ [EMQ 9: 92] – Allah (SWT) put them with their brothers in Jannah because of their sincerity.
Bukhari and Muslim – Anas – the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said ‘There are people behind us in Medina, whenever we go to any place or valley, they are with us but weren’t able to come because they sincerely wanted to come but did not have the means.’ So if your heart and mind and will is with the Mujahideen he will get the reward even though he is not with them.
5. Will make the person who makes ijtihad get the reward. Hence the people who do this are not Ulema but they get reward. Like someone may want to go to Jihad and they tell there family that he is going to study Arabic. Even if the person was wrong eh will get the reward.
6. A man will be saved from the fitnah of the Shahawaat. Allah (SWT) will protect you from all people of fusq and fujur. Like what happened to Yusuf and the wife of Phiroan, her concern was to grab him and hiss concern was to push her away. Allah (SWT) says: ‘we prevented all the fahshah from him and saved him because he is one of our sincere servants. So be careful who your friends are – you will be on his Deen. See
‘And indeed she did desire him and he would have inclined to her desire, had he not seen the evidence of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might turn away from him evil and illegal sexual intercourse. Surely, he was one of Our chosen, guided slaves’[EMQ 12: 24]
The manifestation of Ikhlaas in various actions
We only offer ritual acts to Allah (SWT) in our Tawheed – whoever does this all the heavens will open for him and his kalima will go all the way to Allah (SWT) as long as the kabaa’ir are not committed. In the sujood – hadith said ‘Even if you make one sajdah sincerely Allah (SWT) will raise you one step and vanish one sin’
In fasting: hadith ‘whoever fasts in Ramadan sincerely for Allah (SWT) not caring for what people said about him Allah (SWT) will forgive all his previous sins’
The Messenger Muhammad (saw) said ‘the one who fasts one day for the sake of Allah (SWT) in Jihad – Allah (SWT) will make him away from hellfire 70 years’
Hadith – ‘whoever wakes up a night of Ramadan for the sake of Allah (SWT) sincerely for Allah (SWT) Allah (SWT) will forgive all his previous sins’
There is also the sincerity of leaving the haram and giving sadaqaat etc…
The one who goes out from his home to the mosque purely for salat or daw’ah – hadith ‘whoever went out to the Masjid just for the salat, whichever step he takes Allah (SWT) will raise him one level and forgive a sin and whenever he prays the angels will continue to pray for him until he leaves the salaat.’ And the one who sincerely waits for the salat the angels will continue to pray for him.
The one who sincerely seeks to be shaheed for the sake of Allah (SWT) – he will get the same reward even if he dies in his own bed.
If you sincerely follow the Janazah purely for the sake of Allah (SWT) until the prayer happens and he finishes until the person is buried he will go out like two rewards the size of the mountain of uhud and if he goes before the burial he will get the equivalent of one mountain of uhud.
Also the one who asks forgiveness sincerely for the sake of Allah (SWT) who killed 100 men – the aalim said ‘Indeed Allah (SWT) forgives all sins – leave the place where you committed the sins and the friends with whom you used to commit them [in another narration ‘take this stick and plant this in the cemetery and if leaves come it means that Allah (SWT) will has forgiven you’ – from Gazaali] he died on the way and on the day of judgement Allah (SWT) made his place to the grave closer and Allah (SWT) entered him into Jannah.
In relation to life’s affairs
Now we have entered Dar ul-Fitnah and all your actions and relationships will be different. Make sure you correct your intention first.
In the yellow zone you pray differently, in the orange zone only 2 rakat for each prayer, in the red zone only 1 rakat for the whole day!
What the Ulema used to do and say
Abdullah Ibn Mubarak – the army was facing the Muslims and started to challenge the Muslims and one was very tough. One Muslim went out and was killed and another was killed and another Muslim killed as well i.e. a third. In the end one from the back came shouting Allahu Akbar and he was covering his face – he killed the kaafir and jumped over the kuffar and opened the gate and the Mujahideen entered and they won. He kept covering his face and eventually the Khalifah ordered him to come and he came at night time. He said ‘you want to know who I am? OK on the condition that you never tell anyone.’ He was Abdullah Ibn Mubaarak (a tabei), Allah (SWT) made him known. He said ‘You are the one people always attack and say you never do any Jihad!’ this is where he was known as the one who attended most of the battles and never told anyone who he was, rather he only ever fought for the sake of Allah (SWT).
Al-Hasan Al-Basri – ‘a man used to combine the Qur’an without anyone to know about him and he used to spend without anyone to know him and he used to pray long alone but short when people came to his home.’ ‘They are the Tabein the product of the Sahabah (ra)’
Some people used to make dua without to be heard. They were worried that it could be for people to hear him. Allah (SWT) says: ‘Call your lord but without anyone to hear them’
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