Ikhlas-e-niyat

Ikhlas -e- Neeyat, It means sincerity, i.e. to do all good deeds only for the sake of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) and solely for winning His Pleasure.

Sincerity is a very important factor in the life of a Muslim, for all his activities are judged only on the basis of his intention. If it is good, the action is good, and if the intention is something other than the attainment of the Divine Approbation, then the deed is not reward able at all.

Sincerity can rightly be called the life and soul of the entire moral edifice of Islam. If the action lacks sincerity however dignified or pious it may be it will not fetch any reward from Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) . The Holy Prophet says " All actions are judged be the motive prompting them."

The only incentive for a Muslim in the discharge of his duties should therefore invariably be only the attainment of the Pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) or in other words to obey His Commandments only for the adoration of the Here after.

Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) is Omnipresent. All-knowing, All-hearing, Nothing is concealed from Him, He knows even the hidden secrets of our hearts. He is well aware of our intention, He knows the real motives of all our actions. We can deceive a man but can never deceive Him. If we perform a deed only to carry out His order, seeking solely His Pleasure, He will accept it, and grant the promised reward, but if the real incentive of the deed is some worldly gain, He will reject it, be it even a prayer.

A Muslim is, hence, required to be on a constant watch of his intention and keep it always pure. A slight negligence may lead him astray. The learned pious people said that if a man observed fast to obtain some hygienic benefits or performed Hajj only to enjoy an excursion, or distributed all his wealth among the needy only to gain good reputation, he would not be honored by Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala), and would deserve no reward, Nay such a fellow would be put to trails. We all know that the learning and teaching of the Holy Quran, assisting the needy and being killed in a battle waged in the Way of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala), are most dignified actions in the sight of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala), and He has promised great rewards on them, But even these virtuous deeds are not accepted by our Lord if the motive prompting on the m are found other than the winning of His Pleasure, the Holy Prophet once said: " The first of those who shall be called to account, on the Day of Resurrection shall be one who had learnt the whole of the Quran by heart, and he who had been killed in the way of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) and he who had an abundance of wealth, then shall Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) say to him who had got the whole of Quran learn by heart. "Did I not teach you what I revealed to my Prophet" ?. He will say "Yes, my Lord; Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) will ask, " And what has you done with regard to what you did 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 your sake alone". Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) will say " You are a liar, you did only desire that men should say that such one was a reciter of the Quran and that has been said already".

And the owner of wealth shall be brought before Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) will say to him, " Did I not give you abundance of wealth, so that you was not in want of anything?" He will say, "Yes my Lord; Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) will say, " And what you have done with what I gave you?" He will answer. " I was regardful of the rights of kinship and gave alms and I did so far your sake". Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) will say " You are a liar, you have desire that men should say that such one was a generous and that has been said".

Then shall he who had been killed in the way of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) be brought before Him, and Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) will say to him, "What was it that you was killed for?" He will reply, "Your call for to make Jihad (holy war) in your way and I fought and I was killed". Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) will say: "You are a liar, you had desire that men should say that such one was a valiant man, and that has been said already".

"These are that three men who, of all creatures shall be first sent into the Fire" (What is Islam)

Similarly, Salaat is the best of all actions a servant can do, but even this prayer is rejected if it is performed only for the sake of show.

The Holy Quran says, So woe to the performers of Salaats who are neglectful of their Salaat, those who want but to be seen of men. )i.e. those who stand up for Salaat without sincerity, without their heart and mind being earnestly applied to seek the Pleasure of Allah)." (CVII-4-6)

Let us, brothers, examine our intentions in the light of the above and let us resolve to be always sincere in all actions we do.

But remember sincerity itself is based on the belief in Allah Subhanahu wa Taala's promises and on an overpowering anxiety for winning His Pleasure. The stronger our belief is in His Promises the more sincerity we gain in our life, and when we call the people in complete sincerity towards Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) we shall deserve Divine Rewards on the one hand and on the other we shall get courage and fearlessness. May Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) grant us all to be most sincere.