By Shaykh Anisul Haque
21 March 2025

﷽ 

As we enter the final ten nights of this blessed month of Ramadan, nights that may contain Laylat al-Qadr, I wanted to share some reflections on the essential quality that makes every act of worship dear to Allah: sincerity (ikhlas). It is the essence of our relationship with Allah. It is the unseen flame that lights the soul, that turns simple acts into ibadah (worship), and transforms habits into deeds worthy of abundant rewards.

We are reminded in the famous Hadith found in Sahih Muslim and other authentic collections that among the first to be judged on the Day of Judgement will be three individuals: a martyr, a scholar, and a generous person. Outwardly, their actions appear noble – sacrificing their lives, spreading knowledge, and giving in charity. But when they stand before Allah, it will be made clear that their deeds were not for His sake, but to gain admiration from people.

And then comes the most terrifying part of the Hadith: each of them will be commanded to be dragged face-first into the Hellfire.

Their good deeds – those very actions that should have elevated them – became the cause of their destruction. Why? Because they lacked Ikhlas. Their intentions were corrupted, and what was meant to be done for Allah alone was done for fame, recognition, and praise. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

Verily, actions are judged by intentions, and every person will have what they intended

[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim]

Sincerity is not merely about avoiding showing off. It is about aligning our hearts entirely with the pleasure of Allah. Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751H) said, “Deeds without sincerity are like a traveller who carries sand in his bag. It only burdens him and does not benefit him.”

Imam al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad (d. 187H) said: “The best of deeds are those that are the most sincere and the most correct.” When asked what that meant, he replied, “If a deed is sincere but not correct, it will not be accepted. And if it is correct but not sincere, it will not be accepted. It must be sincere – for the sake of Allah – and correct – in accordance with the Sunnah.”

This balance is the very compass of our worship.

Allah commands in the Qur’an: 

And He says, 

In another verse, Allah says:

Brothers and sisters, sincerity is not a one-time switch. It is a constant struggle of the heart. Shaytan does not rest. He will whisper to turn your hearts towards the seeking of praise, your focus toward reputation, your desires toward leadership or applause. One of the early scholars said, “I never struggled with anything more than my intention. It changes on me every time.” This was Sufyan al-Thawri (d. 161H), a giant in knowledge and piety.

Even the Prophet ﷺ taught us to seek Allah’s refuge from insincerity. One of his du‘as was:

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from associating anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do unknowingly.

[Musnad Ahmad]

Let us ask ourselves: when we stand in qiyam, do we think of Allah’s gaze or the admiration of others? When we give charity, do we imagine our name being known? When we post about our good deeds, are we seeking inspiration or attention?

The scholars say sincerity is like the soul of an action. If the soul is missing, the body is lifeless. Al-Hasan al-Basrī (d. 110H) once said, “May Allah have mercy on the servant who stops during his action and asks himself, ‘What do I intend by this?’”

We live in a time where attention is a currency. Where sharing our worship has become a norm. But let us remember that the best deeds may be the ones no one sees but Allah. A tear you shed in sujud. A coin you give when no one is looking. A fast no one knows about but you and your Lord.

Imam al-Ghazali (d. 505H) described sincerity as the purification of the heart from all impurities, so that it becomes attached only to Allah. He said, “Sincerity is to not seek any witness for your deeds other than Allah.”

And now, as we speak of sincerity, how can we not turn our hearts toward Gaza? Toward Palestine? Over 600 men, women, and children have been brutally killed over the past few days. Ceasefires broken. Lives destroyed. Pain inflicted. Wallahul Musta‘an.

But we are not shocked. This is the way of the oppressors since the time of the prophets. They break their contracts. They kill without remorse. But their time will come.

Our message to them is the same as the Qur’an’s message to Pharaoh, to the people of Thamud, to the tyrants of old. You may have your days of power, but Allah has His day. And His day is near.

And to my brothers and sisters, I say this: if you truly care for the Ummah, then live with purpose. Let your activism be sincere. Let your outrage be backed by action. Let your du‘a be made in the last third of the night. Let your wealth be spent in the path of Allah. Let your skills, your time and careers be in service of this Deen.

A believer is not stung from the same hole twice.

[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Let’s use this moment to build something lasting. A sincere generation. A conscious Ummah. May Allah accept our nights, our fasts, our prayers. May He grant victory to the oppressed and sincerity to His servants.

Ameen.

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