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One of the most challenging aspects of our spiritual practice is sincerity—Ikhlas.

This sincerity is a requirement for our worship and the very essence that breathes life into it.

It’s what transforms ordinary acts into acts of devotion that Allah loves.

"They were only commanded to worship Allah ˹alone˺ with sincere devotion to Him." (Qur'an 98:5)

This verse from the Qur'an encapsulates the core of our relationship with Allah: worship that is pure, unadulterated, and directed solely toward Him.

The second pillar of worship, after the intention itself, is the sincerity of that intention.

But what does sincerity really mean?

This sincerity is not just a feeling but a firm resolve, a single-minded devotion that drives all our actions.

When we act with pure intentions, seeking only Allah’s pleasure, even the smallest deeds can carry immense weight.

The Prophet ﷺ said to Mu‘ādh:

"Make your actions sincere; a small amount will suffice you."

Here, the emphasis is on the quality of our actions, not quantity.

The reality of sincerity is to have one pure motivation.

It’s like focusing a beam of light; the more focused and pure it is, the more it illuminates.

Conversely, its intensity diminishes if a filter or coverings diffuse that light.

Mixing our remembrances with other motivations, such as seeking praise, recognition, or personal gain, are the filters on our actions.

Sincerity is a subtle and delicate state.

It’s not just about doing the right thing but about doing it for the right reasons.

The challenge lies in maintaining that purity of intention, especially when our actions are naturally intertwined with worldly benefits.

For example, a fasting person might intend to worship but also to improve their health.

A student of Islam might study to gain knowledge but also to impress others or secure a good job.

These mixed intentions do not invalidate the act but can dilute its spiritual impact.

Ghazali says, “If the motivation is free from any impurity, it is called pure.”

This is where the struggle lies.

Avoiding these hidden contaminants is incredibly difficult, so sincerity is considered a precious and rare gift.

Some scholars have even said a moment of genuine sincerity can lead to eternal salvation.

However, it’s important to note that while mixed intentions can lessen the reward, they don’t eliminate it.

So long as there is a desire for Allah’s pleasure, there is still some reward. But when it comes to acts of worship, sincerity must dominate.

If the worldly motivation overshadows the spiritual, the worship can be invalid.

For instance, if we pray at the mosque and extend our Salah to impress others, we risk not only having our act unaccepted but also falling into the trap of shirk since we are worshiping for the validation of people.

This issue of sincerity has many layers, even for the devoted.

Salah often brings us peace and satisfaction, a feeling Allah has instilled to help us establish prayer habits and reward us for our devotion.

However, if we rely too much on this feeling, our depth of devotion may hit a ceiling.

Additionally, we seek that sense of peace for ourselves rather than focusing solely on pleasing Allah, which dilutes the purity of our worship.

We might even neglect our worship or shorten our prayer time when that sense of satisfaction no longer arises.

So, how do we cultivate sincerity in our actions?

It begins with awareness—being mindful of why we do our actions.

Before engaging in any act, whether it’s prayer, charity, or even something as mundane as eating or sleeping, we should pause and ask ourselves: Why am I doing this?

Am I seeking Allah’s pleasure, or does some worldly gain drive me?

Throughout the act, we can consistently check in and renew our intentions.

Remember that we are not meant to be perfect, and genuine sincerity is constantly pursued.

However, striving for improvement becomes impossible without understanding the levels of sincerity and the complexities of our desires and intentions.

Acknowledging our imperfections and working to purify our intentions is the first step toward more profound, more meaningful worship.

May Allah grant us the wisdom to recognize our imperfections, the strength to refine our intentions continuously, and the sincerity that transforms every action into a means of drawing closer to Him.

Let us strive not for perfection but for a heart that is ever mindful and sincere in seeking His pleasure.