Sincerity is the essence of our faith. Sincerity is our complete wholesome way of living. It is the rule upon which all our life is built, the truth that should be settled in our hearts and souls and reflected in each and every deed we perform, be it a worldly matter or an act of worship.
The fruits of sincerity are not restricted to the hereafter, since a person’s sincerity affects his or her current life as well as the life after death. Sincerity and integrity are required to straighten out worldly matters. Sincerity is a prerequisite for justice to prevail and for corruption to end.
Life decays without sincerity because in its absence, hypocrisy, materialism and selfishness will flourish. Sincerity is a result of true faith and submissiveness to Allah. And this is so clear in the first chapter of Qur’an:
“You alone we worship, and You alonewe ask for help” (Qur’an 1: 5)
We are ordered to repeat this chapter at least seventeen times each day in our five obligatory prayers. Your sincerity is between you and Allah. No one else can see it, and no one can check it. It is not a mere word that you utter with your tongue; it is a deep feeling rooted inside your heart.
Just like a seed that has to be buried before it can grow and flourish, sincerity has to be kept deep within your heart, unseen by others. This is your own seed that you should care for and water daily with love, devotion, prayers, supplication and detachment from worldly attractions and material possessions.
Allah puts forth the parable: a slave belonging to many partners disputing with one another and a slave belonging entirely to one master. Are those two equal in comparison? All praise and thanks be to Allah! But most of them know not. (Qur’an 39: 29)
Worshiping one God, Allah, adds a sense of relief and stability to our lives. Being devoted to one way of living, one perfectly ordered system for sustenance and
Support, gives us strength and reliability.
Sincerity to our One and Only God gives us tranquility, peace of mind, reassurance, confidence and security. Allah gives us a firm and decisive declaration:
There is a chapter in the Qur’an called al-Ikhlas (Sincerity):
There is no wonder that this chapter has such weight and importance, since it holds the meaning of existence and the key to the only truly successful way of living. That is why it is equal to a third of the Quran.
Try to think of a deed that you performed sincerely, only for the sake of Allah. You can always ask for Allah’s help directly or through your sincere deeds. Never ask through prophets, saints, righteous people or angels, as this idolatry is a major sin that is contrary to the belief in Allah as the One and Only God.
Source: from the book The True Secret By Dr. Amira Ayad
