Sincerity is the life and soul of entire moral edifice of Islam, nay, of Islam itself. By sincerity we mean that all our deeds and actions should solely be for the sake of God and prompted by no other urge than to earn His approbation. Apart from it, there must be no other desire, motive or intention behind whatever we do.
Monotheism, which is the arch-stone of Islam, attains fulfillment through sincerity. Faith in Divine Unity remains imperfect unless all our acts are performed wholly for the sake of God, and we have no other objective before us while carrying them out except and winning of Divine pleasure and reward. States the Prophet:
“He who loves or hates, offers favours or withholds them, and whatever he does, does so for the sake of God, he perfects his faith.”
It shows that a perfect Muslim in the sight of God is only he who succeeds in subordinating his entire conduct, his social relations and all his other affairs to the Will of God and is not influenced in them by his personal desire or likes or dislikes or by any other urges or impulsions. Another Tradition reads:“God is not regardful of your fine visages or your wealth. He is regardful only of your hearts and intentions.”
The idea of the above Tradition is that God will judge and requite on the basis of our motives and intentions. Now, here is a Tradition with which we propose to round off the present discussion. About this Tradition it is reported that Abu Huraira often used to faint while he related it. It says:
Monotheism, which is the arch-stone of Islam, attains fulfillment through sincerity. Faith in Divine Unity remains imperfect unless all our acts are performed wholly for the sake of God, and we have no other objective before us while carrying them out except and winning of Divine pleasure and reward. States the Prophet:
“He who loves or hates, offers favours or withholds them, and whatever he does, does so for the sake of God, he perfects his faith.”
It shows that a perfect Muslim in the sight of God is only he who succeeds in subordinating his entire conduct, his social relations and all his other affairs to the Will of God and is not influenced in them by his personal desire or likes or dislikes or by any other urges or impulsions. Another Tradition reads:“God is not regardful of your fine visages or your wealth. He is regardful only of your hearts and intentions.”
The idea of the above Tradition is that God will judge and requite on the basis of our motives and intentions. Now, here is a Tradition with which we propose to round off the present discussion. About this Tradition it is reported that Abu Huraira often used to faint while he related it. It says:
“The first of those who shall be called to account, on the Day of Resurrection, shall be one who had learned the whole Quran by heart, and he who had been killed in the way of God and he who had an abundance of wealth. Then shall God say to him who had got the whole of Quran by heart, ’Did I not teach thee what revealed to my Prophet?” He will say, ‘Yes, my Lord!’ God will ask, ‘And what hast thou done with regard to what thou didst learn therein?’ He will say, ‘I was constantly at it in the hours of night and in the hours of day. I learnt it myself and taught it to others, and I did it all for Thy sake alone’. God will say, ‘ Thou art a liar; thou didst only desire that men should say that such an one was a recieter of the Quran and that has been said already’ “And the master of wealth shall be brought before God, and God shall say, ‘Did I not give thee an abundance of wealth, so that thou wast not in want of anything?” He will say, ‘Yes, my Lord!’ God will say, ‘And what hast thou done with what I gave thee?’ He will answer, ‘I regarded the rights of kinship and gave alms and I did so for Thy sake.’ God will say, ‘Thou art liar; those didst desire that men should say that such an one was generous man, and that has been said already.’ “Then shall he who had been killed in the way of God be brought before him, and God will say to him, ‘What was it that thou wast killed for? ” He will reply, ‘Thou didst bid us to do Jehad in Thy was and I fought and was killed.’ God will say, ‘Thou art a liar; thou didst desire that men should say that such an one was valiant man, and that has been said already.’ “These are the three men who, of all creatures, shall be first sent into Fire.”
Brothers and sisters, Now, let us examine our thoughts and deeds in the light of the above Tradition and see where do we stand in the sight of God! O Allah! Endue our hearts with sincerity and set right our motives and intentions and make us Thy devoted, dedicated slaves.
http://www.al-islam.edu.pk/whatisislam/goodmaner.htm
Brothers and sisters, Now, let us examine our thoughts and deeds in the light of the above Tradition and see where do we stand in the sight of God! O Allah! Endue our hearts with sincerity and set right our motives and intentions and make us Thy devoted, dedicated slaves.
http://www.al-islam.edu.pk/whatisislam/goodmaner.htm