❀ The Reality of Sincerity and the Importance of Intention in Worship: Worldly and Eternal Impacts ❀
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
The primary goal of worship must be to seek closeness to Allah and earn success in Paradise.
Question:
What if the objective of worship is something else?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
Sincerity towards Allah means that a person's sole purpose in worship is to draw near to Allah and seek success in Paradise. If the intention behind worship is anything else, then its ruling varies according to the following details:
If someone worships with the intention of drawing closer to other than Allah or to receive praise and admiration from people, then such an act is nullified as it falls under Shirk (associating partners with Allah).
In a sound ḥadīth narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ conveyed the words of Allah:
«اَنَا اَغْنَی الشُّرَکَاءِ عَنِ الشِّرْکِ، مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا اَشْرَکَ فِيْهِ مَعِیَ غَيْرِی تَرَکْتُهُ وَشِرْکَهُ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb az-Zuhd wa’r-Raqāʾiq, Bāb Taḥrīm ar-Riyāʾ, Ḥadīth: 2985)
“I am the One Who has no need of a partner. Whoever does a deed in which he associates someone else with Me, I abandon him and his shirk.”
If one performs worship to attain worldly wealth or political power, without intending nearness to Allah, then this act is also wasted.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿مَن كانَ يُريدُ الحَيوةَ الدُّنيا وَزينَتَها نُوَفِّ إِلَيهِم أَعمـلَهُم فيها وَهُم فيها لا يُبخَسونَ﴾
﴿أُولـئِكَ الَّذينَ لَيسَ لَهُم فِى الءاخِرَةِ إِلَّا النّارُ وَحَبِطَ ما صَنَعوا فيها وَبـطِلٌ ما كانوا يَعمَلونَ﴾
(Sūrah Hūd: 15–16)
“Those who desire the life of this world and its adornments – We fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they will not be deprived. It is they for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter except the Fire, and their deeds will be in vain.”
➤ Difference between the Two Cases:
If someone intends a worldly benefit alongside the purpose of worshiping Allah, such as:
Then in such cases, the purity of reward is diminished, although the primary intention remains valid.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿لَيسَ عَلَيكُم جُناحٌ أَن تَبتَغوا فَضلًا مِن رَبِّكُم﴾
(Sūrah al-Baqarah: 198)
“There is no blame on you if you seek the bounty of your Lord (during Ḥajj).”
If the worldly objective becomes dominant over the intention of worship, then no reward is granted in the Hereafter.
Such a person is even at risk of sin.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمِنهُم مَن يَلمِزُكَ فِى الصَّدَقـتِ فَإِن أُعطوا مِنها رَضوا وَإِن لَم يُعطَوا مِنها إِذا هُم يَسخَطونَ﴾
(Sūrah at-Tawbah: 58)
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
A man asked the Prophet ﷺ:
"O Messenger of Allah! A man intends to fight in jihad but also desires some worldly gain."
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
«لَا اَجْرَ لَهُ»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Jihād, Ḥadīth: 2516; Sunan an-Nasāʾī, Ḥadīth: 3142)
“He will receive no reward.”
This question was asked three times, and each time the Prophet ﷺ gave the same reply.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ کَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ لِدُنْيَا يُصِيْبُهَا، اَوِ امْرَأَةٍ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا، فَهِجْرَتُهُ اِلٰی مَا هَاجَرَ اِلَيْهِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Badʾ al-Waḥy, Ḥadīth: 1; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Imārah, Ḥadīth: 1907)
If the intention for worship and the intention for worldly gain are equal, then:
➤ It is doubtful whether any reward will be earned in the Hereafter.
➤ The more correct opinion is: no reward will be granted.
➤ Difference:
Some of the Salaf said:
“The greatest struggle I ever faced was in striving for sincerity within myself.”
We supplicate to Allah ﷻ to grant us and you the ability to have pure intentions and perform righteous deeds.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
❖ Objective of Worship: Nearness to Allah and Attaining Paradise
The primary goal of worship must be to seek closeness to Allah and earn success in Paradise.
❖ What is the Meaning of Ikhlas (Sincerity)?
Question:
What if the objective of worship is something else?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
Sincerity towards Allah means that a person's sole purpose in worship is to draw near to Allah and seek success in Paradise. If the intention behind worship is anything else, then its ruling varies according to the following details:
❶ Worship Intended for Gaining Nearness to Others or to Earn Praise
If someone worships with the intention of drawing closer to other than Allah or to receive praise and admiration from people, then such an act is nullified as it falls under Shirk (associating partners with Allah).
In a sound ḥadīth narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ conveyed the words of Allah:
«اَنَا اَغْنَی الشُّرَکَاءِ عَنِ الشِّرْکِ، مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا اَشْرَکَ فِيْهِ مَعِیَ غَيْرِی تَرَکْتُهُ وَشِرْکَهُ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb az-Zuhd wa’r-Raqāʾiq, Bāb Taḥrīm ar-Riyāʾ, Ḥadīth: 2985)
“I am the One Who has no need of a partner. Whoever does a deed in which he associates someone else with Me, I abandon him and his shirk.”
❷ Worship Performed for Worldly Gains like Status, Power, or Wealth
If one performs worship to attain worldly wealth or political power, without intending nearness to Allah, then this act is also wasted.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿مَن كانَ يُريدُ الحَيوةَ الدُّنيا وَزينَتَها نُوَفِّ إِلَيهِم أَعمـلَهُم فيها وَهُم فيها لا يُبخَسونَ﴾
﴿أُولـئِكَ الَّذينَ لَيسَ لَهُم فِى الءاخِرَةِ إِلَّا النّارُ وَحَبِطَ ما صَنَعوا فيها وَبـطِلٌ ما كانوا يَعمَلونَ﴾
(Sūrah Hūd: 15–16)
“Those who desire the life of this world and its adornments – We fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they will not be deprived. It is they for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter except the Fire, and their deeds will be in vain.”
➤ Difference between the Two Cases:
- In the first, the person seeks praise and acknowledgment as a pious worshipper.
- In the second, the person is unconcerned with praise and aims purely for worldly benefit.
❸ Intending a Worldly Purpose Alongside Worship
If someone intends a worldly benefit alongside the purpose of worshiping Allah, such as:
- Performing ablution (ṭahārah) while also intending physical cleanliness.
- Praying while also considering physical exercise.
- Fasting with the additional aim of losing weight or improving health.
- Performing Ḥajj while also intending to visit sacred sites or meet other pilgrims.
Then in such cases, the purity of reward is diminished, although the primary intention remains valid.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿لَيسَ عَلَيكُم جُناحٌ أَن تَبتَغوا فَضلًا مِن رَبِّكُم﴾
(Sūrah al-Baqarah: 198)
“There is no blame on you if you seek the bounty of your Lord (during Ḥajj).”
➤ When the Worldly Intention Dominates Over the Worship
If the worldly objective becomes dominant over the intention of worship, then no reward is granted in the Hereafter.
Such a person is even at risk of sin.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمِنهُم مَن يَلمِزُكَ فِى الصَّدَقـتِ فَإِن أُعطوا مِنها رَضوا وَإِن لَم يُعطَوا مِنها إِذا هُم يَسخَطونَ﴾
(Sūrah at-Tawbah: 58)
➤ Further Clarification from Ḥadīth
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
A man asked the Prophet ﷺ:
"O Messenger of Allah! A man intends to fight in jihad but also desires some worldly gain."
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
«لَا اَجْرَ لَهُ»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Jihād, Ḥadīth: 2516; Sunan an-Nasāʾī, Ḥadīth: 3142)
“He will receive no reward.”
This question was asked three times, and each time the Prophet ﷺ gave the same reply.
Narration from ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ کَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ لِدُنْيَا يُصِيْبُهَا، اَوِ امْرَأَةٍ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا، فَهِجْرَتُهُ اِلٰی مَا هَاجَرَ اِلَيْهِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Badʾ al-Waḥy, Ḥadīth: 1; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Imārah, Ḥadīth: 1907)
❹ Equal Intention for Worship and Worldly Purpose
If the intention for worship and the intention for worldly gain are equal, then:
➤ It is doubtful whether any reward will be earned in the Hereafter.
➤ The more correct opinion is: no reward will be granted.
➤ Difference:
- In prior cases, worldly benefit comes naturally.
- In this case, worldly benefit is deliberately intended.
❺ Criterion for Measuring Intention
- If no worldly motive exists apart from worship, then the intention for worship is dominant.
- If there are additional objectives, then the intention for non-worship becomes dominant.
❻ The Importance of Intention
- Intention is the resolve of the heart, and it holds great significance.
- A pure intention can elevate a person to the ranks of the truthful (ṣiddīqīn).
- A corrupt intention can drag a person into the depths of loss.
Some of the Salaf said:
“The greatest struggle I ever faced was in striving for sincerity within myself.”
❼ Duʿā
We supplicate to Allah ﷻ to grant us and you the ability to have pure intentions and perform righteous deeds.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
