Written by: Hafiz Mutiullah
Sincerity (Ikhlas) means performing every act solely for the pleasure of Allah without mixing it with any worldly desire. Sincerity is one of the conditions for the acceptance of deeds, which are four:
Two conditions relate to the validity of the action:
Regarding steadfastness, Allah said:
“Hold fast to what We have given you.”
[Al-Baqarah: 63]
And regarding quickness in good deeds:
“And do not slacken in My remembrance.”
[Ta-Ha: 42]
"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."
[Al-Bayyina: 5]
And He said:
"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him."
[Al-Hajj: 37]
And He said:
"Say, Whether you conceal what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it."
[Aal-e-Imran: 29]
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
"Indeed, actions are judged by intentions, and each person will have what he intended. Whoever's migration was for Allah and His Messenger, then his migration was for Allah and His Messenger. But whoever migrated for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration was for that for which he migrated."
(Mutaffaq 'Alayh - Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
✿ ② The place of intention is the heart; verbal articulation of the intention is unnecessary and an innovation (Bid'ah).
✿ ③ Correct and sincere intention is required for all righteous deeds to be accepted.
✿ ④ A righteous intention cannot turn an evil act into a good one.
✿ ⑤ Deeds must be sincere for Allah and conform to the authentic Sunnah for them to be accepted.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and other scholars have written detailed treatises on the rulings of sincerity and intention, emphasizing its pivotal role in Islamic practice.
Chapter:
On Sincerity and Presence of Intention in All Actions, Words, and States, Whether Apparent or HiddenSincerity (Ikhlas) means performing every act solely for the pleasure of Allah without mixing it with any worldly desire. Sincerity is one of the conditions for the acceptance of deeds, which are four:
Two conditions relate to the validity of the action:
- ① Sincerity (Ikhlas)
- ② Correctness (in accordance with the Sunnah)
- ③ Steadfastness (Istiqamah)
- ④ Promptness in performing good deeds.
Regarding steadfastness, Allah said:
“Hold fast to what We have given you.”
[Al-Baqarah: 63]
And regarding quickness in good deeds:
“And do not slacken in My remembrance.”
[Ta-Ha: 42]
Quranic References:
Allah Almighty said:"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."
[Al-Bayyina: 5]
And He said:
"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him."
[Al-Hajj: 37]
And He said:
"Say, Whether you conceal what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it."
[Aal-e-Imran: 29]
Explanation of Verses:
- The first verse emphasizes the command to worship Allah with sincerity and to turn away from all false religions toward Islam alone.
- The second verse clarifies that Allah does not require the flesh or blood of sacrifices but only accepts the piety behind the act.
- The third verse states that Allah knows the hidden and apparent affairs of His servants; nothing is hidden from Him.
Commentary:
Those who perform righteous deeds must do so with pure intentions; otherwise, their deeds will not be accepted. Allah’s complete knowledge of all that is hidden or manifest warns believers to remain vigilant in sincerity and obedience.Hadith Text:
On the authority of the Commander of the Believers, Abu Hafs Umar bin Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه who said:I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
"Indeed, actions are judged by intentions, and each person will have what he intended. Whoever's migration was for Allah and His Messenger, then his migration was for Allah and His Messenger. But whoever migrated for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration was for that for which he migrated."
(Mutaffaq 'Alayh - Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Authentication of the Hadith:
- [Narrated by Al-Bukhari 1/9 - Fath Al-Bari, and Muslim 1907]
Explanation of Key Terms:
- Hafs: A title meaning "young lion," which is the kunyah (agnomen) of Umar رضي الله عنه.
- Niyyah (Intention): The determination within the heart at the time of action.
- Hijrah (Migration): In religious terms, it means to leave that which Allah has forbidden, migrating from the land of fear to the land of security or from the land of disbelief to the land of Islam.
Jurisprudence (Fiqh) Lessons:
✿ ① Intention is essential for all acts of worship like purification, prayer, zakah, fasting, Hajj, freeing slaves, and Jihad.✿ ② The place of intention is the heart; verbal articulation of the intention is unnecessary and an innovation (Bid'ah).
✿ ③ Correct and sincere intention is required for all righteous deeds to be accepted.
✿ ④ A righteous intention cannot turn an evil act into a good one.
✿ ⑤ Deeds must be sincere for Allah and conform to the authentic Sunnah for them to be accepted.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and other scholars have written detailed treatises on the rulings of sincerity and intention, emphasizing its pivotal role in Islamic practice.
