In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Sincerity is the foundation of any work that we do. If the foundation is corrupt, then the building can easily be broken.
Allah Almighty says,
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿١٦٢[Qur'an, Al-An'am 6:162]
Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. (162)
This verse tells us that everything can be for the sake of Allah. "Actions are judged according to intentions. Every person shall have what they intend." [Bukhari]. Though, only those things done for the sake of Allah are ‘religious’ things, by the same token, everything that is done for other than Allah, however ‘religious’ it may seem – is a worldly act. So, striving to earn a living to support your family and to spend for the cause of Allah, seeking only Allah’s pleasure, is a highly spiritual act. Similarly, if you intend your sleep at a certain time in order that you can wake up for Fajr prayer, then your sleep is for Allah and you are rewarded for all that time you are sleeping.
One should worship Allah for Allah, not for some other reasons. The same applies when we are setting out intentions to do work. We should be seeking the pleasure of our Lord with it. We do not seek anything for worldly gain or prestige.
We all know the famous story of the prostitute who was rewarded with Paradise for giving water to a dog – but what truly got her into Paradise? Was it just that simple act? It could not have been, because there are scholars, martyrs and charitable people who will be thrown in hell because they were insincere. But she was helping the dog for Allah sake only. Look at how your intention elevates your deeds. This is why the scholars have said that intention is the most important act of worship of the heart – to have the driving force of your acts be to please Allah.
Imam Al-Ghazali said that: If you want to know whether something you did was purely for the sake of Allah or not, you should test your reaction when someone acts ungratefully. Do you feel self-righteous, like you were doing the person a favor? Do you feel angry that they did not appreciate your work? It may not mean that your act was ostentatious, but it points to the fact that it was not solely for the sake of Allah. We were expecting, at the very least, recognition and respect from the person as a result of the good we did for them.
Sincerity is the secret to success and tawfiq -- in this life and the next life. We should adorn ourselves with sincerity. If you are not inherently sincere, ask Allah to enable you to be sincere and pretend sincerity until it becomes one innate's nature.
وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ ﴿٥[Qur'an, Al-Bayyinah 98:5]
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion. (5)
So, whether you are trying to memorize Qur'an or studying medicine, whether you are an English teacher or a Qur'an teacher, whether you are helping in a refugee camp or feeding a stray cat, or doing anything else, whether considered as religious or mundane, big or small, it is important that you are doing it for the sake of Allah, seeking His pleasure. If you do that you are on the road to success inshaAllah.
The more complete sincerity becomes, the more the person is upright. We are prone to making mistakes, and we may find that sometimes our intentions are mixed; sometimes there may not be an apparent intention behind whatever act we are doing. That is why we need to always aspire to be of the sincere.
May Allah make us among those who are sincere and grant us tawfiq. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakum Allahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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