Ikhlās (Sincerity)

IKHLĀSSincerity in worship, seeking only the pleasure of Allah and avoiding the pursuit of fame or status. (SINCERITY)

The Twentieth Flash

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحٖيمِIn the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Both the verses

اِنَّٓا اَنْزَلْنَٓا اِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ فَاعْبُدِ اللّٰهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدّٖينَ ۞ اَلَا لِلّٰهِ الدّٖينُ الْخَالِصُIndeed, We have sent down to you the Book in truth. So worship Allah, devoting the religion sincerely to Him alone. Surely, sincere devotion belongs to Allah alone. – The Quran 39:2

and the narration of the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him)

هَلَكَ النَّاسُ اِلَّا الْعَالِمُونَ وَهَلَكَ الْعَالِمُونَ اِلَّا الْعَامِلُونَ وَهَلَكَ الْعَامِلُونَ اِلَّا الْمُخْلِصُونَ وَالْمُخْلِصُونَ عَلٰى خَطَرٍ عَظٖيمٍPeople are doomed except the scholars; the scholars are doomed except those who act upon their knowledge; those who act are doomed except the sincere; and the sincere are in grave danger. – اَوْ كَمَا قَالَor as he (the Prophet (saw)) said; a phrase added after quoting a hadith from memory to acknowledge that the wording may not be exact while preserving the intended meaning.

show what an important foundation ikhlāsSincerity in worship, seeking only the pleasure of Allah and avoiding the pursuit of fame or status. is within Islam. Of the countless matters concerning ikhlāsSincerity in worship, seeking only the pleasure of Allah and avoiding the pursuit of fame or status., we shall briefly set forth only five.^[1]

An important and urgent question: How is it possible that those who are completely absorbed in worldly affairs and indifferent toward the Creator, and even misguided people and hypocrites, can work together without rivalry, while practicing Muslims, Islamic scholars, and Sufis—who are on the right path and should strive for unity—oppose one another in rivalry? Why is there harmony on the side of the misguided and division among those on the straight path, when it should be the other way around?

The answer: We shall set forth seven reasons for this painful, shameful, and awe-inspiring condition, which tears the heart of those who strive for the welfare of Islam.

The First Reason

The disagreement among those who follow the truth does not mean that their path is based on falsehood, just as the harmony among those who are heedless of the Creator does not imply that their path is based on truth. Rather, worldly-minded people, politicians, teachers, and other groups who fulfil specific functions within society each have clearly defined and distinct duties and services. Likewise, the material compensation and salaries they receive for those services, as well as the status, reputation, and recognition they gain as immaterial rewards through public attention, are specified and distinguished. Consequently, there is little overlap that would give rise to conflict, disagreement, or rivalry. Therefore, however misguided their path may be, they can nevertheless remain united among themselves.