By Shaykh Abdul Qayum
18 July 2025

﷽

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “The religion is sincerity (al-dīn al-nasīha).” The companions asked, “To whom, O Messenger of Allah?” He ﷺ replied, “To Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims, and to their common folk.”

This hadith isn’t just a statement of belief, it’s a moral and ethical code to live by. The entire religion of Islam, the Messenger ﷺ tells us, is grounded in sincerity. In Arabic, the word nasīha holds two deep meanings: to wish well and to give sincere advice. 

What I find so moving about this teaching is that it makes caring for others part of our faith. Islam isn’t just a list of rituals, it’s about how we treat people. When I truly wish good for someone, I’m practicing my religion. And when I turn that good intention into real support or honest advice, I’m putting my faith into action. 

We were reminded that even when people accepted Islam during the Prophet’s ﷺ time, sincerity to others was part of their pledge. One companion said he gave his oath to the Prophet ﷺ not just to pray and pay zakah, but to be someone who wishes well for every Muslim. That was part of his entry into Islam. SubhānAllāh.

The Prophet ﷺ said,

The believer is sincere and wishes well. The hypocrite cheats and deceives.

That’s the difference between a heart that wants good for others and one that only looks out for itself. The believer doesn’t carry hatred or jealousy. He doesn’t hope for someone to fail or fall. Our relationship with each other should be like two hands on one body, one washes the other. Just like a hand would never strike the other, a believer never harms another believer. This is the example the Prophet ﷺ gave us.

And sincerity isn’t just about thoughts and feelings, it’s about action. If someone needs help, we help them. If someone is struggling, we go to support them. If someone seeks knowledge, we don’t turn away, we share what we know. If someone is poor, we give what we can. All of this is nasīha in action. It’s how our faith breathes through our everyday life.

The Prophet ﷺ said,

When one of you is asked for advice by his brother, he should give sincere advice.

This isn’t just a kind gesture, it’s a trust (amanah). When someone comes to you asking for guidance, that moment becomes an amanah. Your words carry weight. They could guide someone or leave them confused. That’s why advice must always come with sincerity and concern for the other person’s well-being.

We heard about the companions and their incredible level of sincerity. Muʿādh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) for example, wasn’t known for outdoing others in prayer or fasting, but for the love of Allah he carried in his heart and his sincerity towards people. One scholar put it beautifully: those who reached the highest ranks did so not through more outward deeds, but through the purity of their hearts, the generosity of their souls, and their sincerity.

There’s a powerful lesson in the story of early Muslim scholar Ibrāhīm al-Taymi (d. 92H/710CE) and his student. Ibrāhīm al-Taymi was one-eyed, and his student had blurred vision. One day, as they were walking through the market together, Ibrāhīm al-Taymi quietly suggested they take different routes. He explained that people might see them and say things like, “Look! Neither of them has good eyesight. One can’t see properly and the other is leading him.” 

Out of concern that people might fall into mocking or backbiting, and earn sin for it, Ibrāhīm al-Taymi chose to walk separately. He wasn’t thinking about himself. He was thinking about those who might harm their own souls with careless words. That’s the level of sincerity he had for others.

Sometimes when we see someone doing well, their children are excelling, they’ve got a beautiful home, their life looks stable, jealousy creeps into the heart. It’s a weakness we all face. But Islam teaches us how to deal with it. Instead of letting those feelings grow, say “Allāhumma bārik lah”, asking Allah to bless them. That’s how you protect your heart and theirs. That’s what it means to truly wish well for others. 

When we do that, we don’t just wish well, we clean our hearts. And that’s everything. Because Allah tells us about the Day of Judegment:

That’s our goal. A sound heart. A clean heart. A heart that doesn’t burn with resentment or pride, but overflows with care, sincerity, and love.

O Allah, make our hearts clean. Fill them with sincerity. Help us to wish well for others, to offer gentle advice and to leave behind any jealousy, bitterness, or ego. Let us meet You with hearts full of light, and make us among those who lift others, not those who weigh them down.

Ameen.

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