Steps Towards Happiness -Sincerity to Allah is the path to happiness.

The servant becomes affluent by obeying Allah and turning towards Him. Sincerity in actions to Allah is the essence of religion, the crown of deeds, and the path to happiness. It is the epitome of dignity, the elevation of ambition, and true intellect. Nothing can be perfected and no blessings can be attained except through the righteousness of one's intention and sincerity.

Allah commanded His Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to be sincere in multiple verses. He said to him:

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَٱعْبُدِ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصًۭا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ ٢

“[O Muhammad], in truth. So worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion.” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39: 2)

And He said,

قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصًۭا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ ١١

“Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, I have been commanded to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion”. 

(Surah Az-Zumar, 39: 11)

And He said;

قُلِ ٱللَّهَ أَعْبُدُ مُخْلِصًۭا لَّهُۥ دِينِى ١٤

“Say, "Allah [alone] do I worship, sincere to Him in my religion,” 

(Surah Az-Zumar, 39: 14)

So, the rectification of actions is derived from the rectification of intentions, and the rectification of intentions is derived from the rectification of the heart.

The foundation of acceptance of deeds by Allah is sincerity accompanied by adherence to the way of the Prophet, peace be upon him.‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood1 (may Allah be pleased with him) once said: “speech and action will not benefit except with a correct intention. Speech, action, and a correct intention will not benefit except with what is in accordance with the sunnah”2

Sincerity is highly esteemed in the realm of worship. Ibn al-Jawzi3, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "How few are those who work solely for the sake of Allah, exalted is He, because most people are inclined towards displaying their acts of worship."4

Ibn Rajab5, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "Pure showing-off is rarely found in a believer when it comes to fulfilling the obligations of prayer and fasting. However, it may manifest in acts of obligatory charity, pilgrimage, and other outwardly apparent deeds, or in actions that have benefits extending to others. Sincerity in these acts is precious, and no Muslim doubts that this action is futile, and its owner deserves Allah's displeasure and punishment6."

Some scholars, such as Imam al-Bukhari1 in his Sahih2, al-Maqdisi3 in 'Umdat al-Ahkam4, al-Baghawi5 in his explain of as-Sunnah6 and "Masaabih al-Sunnah"7, and al-Nawawi8 in his collection of Forty Hadiths9, began their works with the Hadith: "Actions are judged by intentions", as an indication to the importance of sincerity in deeds.

Sufyan al-Thawri10, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "I have not treated anything more difficult for me than my own intention because it’s changing11."

Engaging in actions without sincere intention for the sake of Allah is wasted energy, scattered effort, and it will be rejected. Allah, the Most High, is free from any need. He only accepts actions that are purely dedicated to Him. Abu Umamah al-Bahili1, may Allah be pleased with him, said: A man came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you think about a person who participates in battles seeking both rewards and fame?' The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, 'He will have nothing.' The man repeated his question three times, and each time the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, 'He will have nothing.' Then he said, 'Verily, Allah accepts only what is done sincerely for Him, and that which is done seeking His Face, narrated by An-Nasa'i2.

The prophet, peace be upon him, stated that Allah, glorified be He, says: " I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Whoever performs an action associating someone else with Me in it, I will abandon him and his association", (Muslim)3.

References:

1 Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim al-Ju'fi, al-Bukhari, was born in 194 AH and passed away in 256 AH. This information can be found in "Tadhkirat al-Huffaz" by al-Dhahabi (Volume 104/2).

2 The chapter of “how the revelation began to the Messenger of Allah, (peace be upon him)”, No. 1

3 Abu Muhammad Abdul Ghani ibn Abdul Wahid ibn Ali ibn Surur al-Jama'ili al-Maqdisi was born in 541 AH and passed away in 600 AH. It can be found in "Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabilah" (Volume 3/1).

4 It is mentioned in, Mutun Talib al-Ilm, the additional texts, specifically within our edition, on page 13.

5 Abu Muhammad al-Husayn ibn Mas'ud al-Farra al-Baghawi. He passed away in 516 AH, and died at an age between 73 and 79 years old. "Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyyah al-Kubra" by al-Subki (57/7) and "Siyar A'lam al-Nubala" (Volume 439/19).

6 "Kitab al-Iman," (51/1), no. 1.

7 In the introduction (110/1).

8 He is Abu Zakariya Yahya ibn Sharaf ibn Murri al-Nawawi al-Shafi'i. He was born in 631 AH and passed away in 676 AH. "Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyyah al-Kubra" by al-Subki (8/395) and "Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyya" by Ibn Qadi Shahba (153/2).

9 It is mentioned in, Mutun Talib al-Ilm, level 1, specifically within our edition, on page 79.

10 He is Abu Abdullah Sufyan ibn Sa'id ibn Masruq al-Thawri. He was born in 97 AH and passed away in 126 AH. This information can be found in "Siyar A'lam al-Nubala" (229/7).

11 Narrated by Abu Nu'aim in "Hilyat al-Awliya" (7/62).

1 He is Abu Abdur-Rahman Abdullah bin Mas'ud bin Ghafil al-Hudhali. He embraced Islam at the dawn of Islam and passed away in 32 AH or 33 AH. See "Asad al-Ghabah fi Ma'rifat As-Sahabah" (381/3).

2 Ibn Battah in "Al-Ibanah al-Kubra" (2/803).

3 He is Abu al-Faraj Abdul-Rahman bin Ali al-Qurashi al-Baghdadi, known as Ibn al-Jawzi. He was born in 508 AH and passed away in 597 AH. See "Takmilat Liwafayat an-Naqalah" by al-Mundhiri (394/1) and "Siyar A'lam al-Nubala" (365/21).

4 Sayd al-Khatir, (p. 264)

5 Abu al-Faraj Abd al-Rahman ibn Ahmad ibn Rajab al-Baghdadi, al-Dimashqi, al-Hanbali, was born in 736 AH and passed away in 795 AH. "Al-Jawahir al-Munaddad fi Tabaqat Muta'akhiri As-habi Ahmad" (Volume 46/1) "Tabaqat al-Huffaz" by al-Suyuti (Volume 1, p. 540).

6 Jami al-Ulum wal-Hikam" (Volume 79/1)

1 He is Abu Umamah Sudai ibn Ajlan ibn Wahb al-Bahili, who resided in Homs. He passed away in 81 AH at the age of 99. He was the last companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to pass away in the Levant region. "Al-Isti'ab fi Ma'rifat al-Ashab" (736/2).

2 Book of Jihad, Chapter: Regarding someone who participates in battles seeking both rewards and fame, Hadith number (3140). An-Nasa'i is Abu Abdur Rahman Ahmad ibn Shu'ayb ibn Ali al-Khurasani al-Nasai. He was born in 215 AH and passed away in 303 AH – may Allah have mercy on him. "Tadhkirat al-Huffaz" by al-Dhahabi (194/2).

3 Book of Zuhd (Asceticism) and Raqaiq (Heart-Softening Narrations), Chapter: Regarding someone who associates partners with Allah in their actions, Hadith number (2985), from the narration of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him. Muslim is Abu al-Husayn Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj ibn Muslim al-Qushayri al-Naysaburi. He was born in 204 AH and passed away in 261 AH. "Tadhkirat al-Huffaz" by al-Dhahabi (125/2).