Sincerity for Allah

The Best defense against the accursed Satan:

1) The accursed Satan has no way of affecting the people of sincerity, and this is because of the condition, as Allah says that Iblees said:

“[Iblees] said, "By your might, I will surely mislead them all, Except, among them, Your chosen servants.”[1]

And also the statement of Allah concerning Prophet Yusuf; 

“And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.”[2] 

So in this case he was rewarded for his sincerity by having evil averted from him.

Sincerity towards Allah is in turn, trying to rid oneself of the effects of Satan. Actions, statements, love, and hate of the people of sincerity towards Allah are all done only for Allahs sake.

On the authority of Abi Imaama that the Prophet said. “Whoever loves for Allah, Hates for Allah, Gives for Allah, Restrains for Allah, He has complete Belief”[3]

Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah said: “ Love for Allah and Hate for Allah are actions related to the heart, and giving and withholding are actions of the body, all of these pointing to the perfection of gaining Allahs love, also it points to the perfection of belief. That is because the perfection of belief is when all religious services are only done for him, as well as all of our worship, alone with no partner in that. So worship to him shows that a person has complete love of him, and perfect submission. Love is that which begins all intentional actions, so if a person loves something he will do an action only because of that love for it. Love and hate is a part of our lives, so if your love and hate is for that which Allah loves and hates, this points to having the correct belief in him. However at times it can be stronger or weaker, because of a persons attraction towards his desires and indulging in them. But if a person does all these things mentioned in the hadeeth for Allahs sake alone, it shows that he has the correct belief both inwardly and outwardly” Majmoo’ al-fataawa 10/754

It can be said that the religion centers around four rules.

Loving, hating, and two that are built upon that are doing an action and leaving something, So whoever loves and hates, does actions and leaves actions for Allahs sake then he would have reached the complete level of belief, and whoever falls short in anyone of these than his belief would also fall short.

Sheikh As-Sa'di said, 

عزموا القلوب عن الشواغل كلها قد فرغوها من سوى الرحمن

حركاتهم و همومهم و عزومهم لله لا للخلق و الشيطان

"Keep your hearts away from all distractions, empty them of all things other than The Most Merciful . The actions, the interests, the determinations of the heart are all for Allah, not for the creation nor for Satan "

So the people of sincerity, their actions both inward and outward are for Seeking Allahs face alone, they don’t want by those actions any reward or thanks from mankind, nor do they seek praise from them, or a place in their hearts, nor do they want to be away from peoples critisim of them, instead they want people to consider them as dead in the grave, not having any benefit for them nor any harm against them, neither while dead nor alive, nor after being raised up.

Together with this their actions and worship is in complete agreement with the order of Allah, for that which he loves and is pleased with. These are the deeds that Allah accepts completely, he is the one who tests his slaves in order to see whom from among them are sincere in this life, and best in doing good.

As Allah says: 

“[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving –[4]“

One of the Salaf, Fudhayl bin ‘Iyaadh said: “The good deed is that which is most sincere and pertinent.” So someone said to him, “O’ Abaa ‘Alee, what is considered most sincere and pertinent? So Fudhayl said: “if an action is done sincerely but isn't correctly done it would not be accepted, and if it is done correctly but not with sincerity it also would not be accepted, the only way it will be accepted is if it has both sincerity and correctness. So sincerity is for Allah, and correctness and pertinence is that which is done according to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alayi Wa Salam), so these are two very important principles in our religion, in which Allah is pleased with."

As Allah Says: 

""And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good"[5]

So whom so ever submits himself for the sake of Allah he is the one who has made his intention completely sincere. The good doer [6] he is the one who makes good his action and then does good, and good deeds [7] they are righteous deeds, and righteous deeds are what Allah and his messenger ordered, both from the obligatory and recommended deeds, so if they are not from either of these things, then they would not be considered good deeds neither would the one doing them be considered a good doer.[8]

Allah says: 

“So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."[9]

Allah is one and there is no diety like unto him, so likewise it is a must that all worship be for him alone.

Good deeds are done without the presense of showing off, following the Sunnah.

From among the supplications of Umar bin Al-Khataab (Radhi Allahu Anhu) was: “Oh Allah make my actions good deeds, and make them sincerely seeking your face, and for the sake that they are done do not include anyone in that.”[10]

So whoever does not mae his worship sincere for Allah then he doesn’t do what Allah ordered, rather he does the opposite of that which Allah ordered, it would neither be accepted nor correct.

On the Authority of Abu Huraira (Radhi Allahu Anhu) he said the Prophet (Alayi Salaatu wa Salaam) said that Allah said: “I am in no need of those who associate in worship with me, So whoever does an action and by doing so includes in it the association of other than me, then I leave him and his associating.” [11]

So without correct sincerity and following Allah and his messenger then the persons doing an action would have the action returned to him with no reward.. His reward would be like dust scattered about. Every action that's done without following the example of the Prophet does nothing except move him further way from Allah, this is because Allah is only worshiped by what he ordered, not by peoples opinions or desires.[12]

On the Authority of Abi Imaama al-Baahili he said a man came to the Prophet (Alayi Salaatu Wa Salaam) and said, “Have you seen this man who had faught seeking recompence and so that he would be remembered as such?" So the Prophet said: “There is no reward for him” three times, so the man enquired, "There is no reward for him?" So the Prophet said: “Allah does not accept action except that it was done sincerily and seeking Allahs face”[13]

On the Authority of Aaisha (Radhi Allahu Anha) the Prophet said: “Whoever innovates anything in our affair that which is not from it, then it is rejected”[14]

Sheikh Al Islaam Ibn Taymiyah said:

“Worship is built upon the legislation and following, not on desires and innovations. So there are two principles that are the foundations of Islaam,

1) Worship Allah Alone without any partners.

2) To worship him according to how the Prophet Muhammad worshipped him.

Ibn Al-Qayyim said in his poem.

“The rights of Allah are that worship is done according to his order, not according to desires of the soul because that is the way of Satan. So who ever worships Allah without any partners, than that and doing it according to the law are the two reasons of success, how great are these two reasons!”

He also said:

“The most difficult thing for the soul is trying to make sincere his actions and secure them from the plot of Satan, even if he were to do that for only one action he would be successful, however the devil would never be pleased with even one good deed done for Allahs sake, and this is why some of people who are close to Allah knowing about him and their own condition have said, “I swear by Allah if I would have known one good deed of mine would had been accepted by Allah I would be elated with death at that moment.”

Making sincere the actions from the entering of Satan into them can only happen by Allahs will, only if Allah grants that success upon success, helping this person with his mercy, showering him with his grace, protecting him, and assisting him, opening his hearts vision.

Peace and Blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, His family, and All of his companions, Ameen. May Allah make all of our actions done with sincerity and following His order and His Prophet Muhammad, Ameen.

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[1] 38:82-83

[2] 12:24

[3] Abu Dawood 4681, Al-Albani declared it Saheeh.

[4] 67:2

[5] 4:125

[6] ’Muhsin, Muhsinah

[7] Al-Hasinaat

[8] Al-Nabawaat ibn taymiyah 87.

[9] 18:110

[10] Reported by Ahmad in Az-Zuhd 118

[11] Muslim, 2985

[12] Mudaarij as-saalikeen

[13] Nisaa’ii-3142, Saheeh al-Albani

[14] Al-Bukhaari 2697, Muslim 1718