Steps Towards Happiness - The Reward of Sincerity

Good deeds are only accepted when accompanied by sincerity. Without sincerity, actions will be rejected, even if they are many. Sincerity, by the permission of Allah, prevents Satan from having control over the servant. Allah, glorified be He, said about Iblis:

قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ٨٢

إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ ٨٣

“[Iblees] said, "By your might, I will surely mislead them all. Except, among them, Your chosen servants." 

(Surah Sad:82-83)

The sincere servant is protected by Allah from disobedience and detestable acts. Allah, glorified be He, said about Yusuf:

وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرْهَـٰنَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ ٢٤

“And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.” 

(Surah Yusuf: 12: 24)

Sincerity brings tranquility to the heart, a sense of happiness, and liberation from the humiliation of others. Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, beautifully stated: "Whoever knows people finds rest.1" Meaning, that when he realizes that they cannot benefit or harm him, he finds rest from them.

With sincerity, the ranks are elevated, and the doors of goodness are opened. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 'If you remain behind, whatever good deed you will do for Allah's Sake, will raise and upgrade you to a higher position (in Allah's Sight)” (Agreed upon)1

Abu Bakr bin Ayyash2, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Abu Bakr did not precede them - meaning he did not precede the Companions - in prayer or fasting, but rather with something that settled in his heart3.

Even a small deed with sincerity is great in the sight of Allah, and the reward is multiplied. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “If anyone gives as sadaqa the equivalent of a date from something lawfully earned, for Allah accepts only what is lawful, Allah will accept it with His right hand, then foster it4 for the one who gave it as one of you fosters his colt5, till it becomes like a mountain.” (Agreed upon)6

Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak7, may Allah have mercy on him, said: " A small deed may become great by intention, and a great deed may become small by intention."1

Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, said regarding the verse:

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍۢ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍۢ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ٢٦١

“And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-encompassing and Knowing.” 

(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261): 

That is, according to his sincerity in his deed.2

When sincerity is strengthened, the intention is magnified, and the righteous deed is concealed (from others) - one of the acts in which hiding is recommended - the servant draws near to his Lord. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His ....” He mentioned from the seven , “a man who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given.” (i.e. Nobody knows how much he has given in charity). Agreed upon3

ReferensiL

1 Majmu' Fatwa Sheikh al-Islam (93/1).

1 Narrated by Bukhari, Book of Funerals, Chapter on The Mourning of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for Sa'd

ibn Khawla, number (1295), and Muslim, Book of Wills, Chapter on Wills with One-Third, number (1628), from the hadith of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas.

2 His name is Abu Bakr ibn Ayyash ibn Salim, a freed slave of the Banu Asad al-Hanat tribe. There is a difference of opinion regarding his name. He was born in the year 95 AH and passed away in the year 193 AH. Siyar A'lam al-Nubala (8/495), Tadhkirat al-Huffaz by al-Dhahabi (194/1).

3 Minhaj al-Sunnah by Sheikh al-Islam (223/6).

4 It means: to preserve and nurture, to take care of something, to rectify and reform it. Mashariq al-Anwar (280/1), Al-Nihayah fi Ghareeb al-Hadith wa al-Athar (179/2).

5 Al-Nihayah fi Ghareeb al-Hadith wa al-Athar (474/3).

6 Narrated by Bukhari, Book of Zakat, Chapter on Allah not accepting charity from ill-gotten gains, number (1410), and Muslim, Book of Zakat, Chapter on Accepting Charity from Questionable Earnings and Nurturing It, number (1014), from the hadith of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him.

7 His name is Abu Abdur Rahman Abdul

lah ibn al-Mubarak ibn Wadhih al-Hanzali, their freed slave, al-Marwazi. He was born in the year 118 AH and passed away in the year 181 AH. Tadhkirat al-Huffaz by al-Dhahabi (201/1).

1 Jami' al-'Ulum wa al-Hikam (71/1).

2 Tafsir Ibn Kathir (693/1).

3 Narrated by Bukhari, Book of Adhan, Chapter on Sitting in the Mosque Waiting for Prayer and the Virtue of Mosques, number (660), and Muslim, Book of Zakat, Chapter on the Virtue of Concealing Charity, number (1031), from the hadith of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him.