Sincerity of Intention

This is also called the "correction of intention". That is, whenever a person intends to do something good, he must not be tempted by some worldly interest, but should do it purely for the pleasure of Allah, and to have its reward in the life Hereafter. This purity of intention can be achieved only when he has a firm faith in the reward which Allah and Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) have promised for our good deeds, and, therefore, the hope .of this reward should be our motive in good deeds. That is why Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) has said, "The reward for your deeds depends entirely on your intention, and everyone is paid in accordance with the nature of his intention". It means, that it is not merely the action which ensures a reward from Allah, but it is the sincerity of our intention, which will ensure it. If an action is void of good intention, and is undertaken for the sake of passion, or to please men, or to attain some worldly interest, then it is hollow, lifeless and deserves no reward from Allah.

A hadith to this effect says, "All the deeds of men will be gathered together before Allah, on the Day of Qiyaamah; of them only the deeds which are purely done for Allah, will be separated, and the rest will be thrown into hell". (Targheeb)

When certain good deeds are done purely for Allah, it is called "Ikhlaas" and whenever a believer intends to do something based on sincerity, the evil self, or the Shaytaan cause hindrances in his way. Therefore it is indispensable to sincerity that one should forsake the worldly temptations, and should believe in the everlasting boons and favour of the life Hereafter. Those who have realized the value of sincerity, they apply it to their worldly affairs also.

They observe the sincerity of intention in eating, drinking, sleeping, awaking, walking, earning their living etc., but this standard of sincerity cannot be achieved without the company of saints and devouts. As an example our religious scholars have told us that by observing fasts, if someone desires its reward and good health at the same time; or, if by undertaking a pilgrimage, one wishes reward, recreation, and safety from the enemy: or, if by giving alms to a beggar, one has an intention to have its reward from Allah, appreciation from the onlookers, and to silence the beggar, then all the above-mentioned deeds will be void of sincerity.

A companian of Rasululla (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) asked him, "What is faith?" He replied, "Another name for faith is sincerity!" (Targheeb) In another hadith Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) says. "Observe sincerity in your deeds, then even a few good ddeds will have the reward of great virtue for you!" (Targheeb). Another companion of Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) asked him, "One man participates in the holy war for the sake of riches, and another man participates in it for the sake of reputation, that he may be called a hero; say, O Messenger of Allah, who is fighting in the way of Allah?"' He answered, "Only that person fights in the way of Allah, who wants to propagate and establish the truth told by Him (in the Holy Qur'an)". (Reported by Bukhari, Muslim)

Those who do not desire the pleasure of Allah by their deeds, but wish only the worldly achievements, they are certainly hypocrites, and this (hypocrisy) is a disease of the heart, which our spiritualists say, is the root of all evils.