S03-Values of Sincerity in Actions(1)

S-3

SINCERITY ENTAILS DOING GOOD DEEDS WITH A SENSE OF FEAR OF PUNISHMENT

These are the people who do not do deeds and wait for the people to reciprocate

Surah 23 Al-Muminoon (The Believers)
60. And those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear (whether their alms and charities, etc., have been accepted or not), because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning).

Notes:
Al-Abrar – a righteous person is the one that does good deeds with the fear of the punishment of Allah (swt).
Reward from Allah (swt) not instant reward.
A person must quickly reaffirm his intentions
Most hurt are felt when deeds are not reciprocated or appreciated therefore to not feel hurt one must always reaffirm his intentions
Do something good and put them in the ocean. Even if it is in the deepest part of the ocean, if done with sincerity Allah (swt) will find it and reward you for it.

WHY THE PRAYER OF AN OPPRESSED PERSON AND THE DISTRESSED ARE ANSWERED

The Prophet (saw) said: “The prayer of an oppressed is answered. Even if he is a sinner, his sins will (not affect his prayer) remain with him.”

The Prophet (saw) said: “Ask Allah (swt) in a state of believing that your prayer will be answered. Allah (swt) does not accept the prayer of a person who is distracted and oblivious.”

Note: Be afraid of hurting even the disbelievers because their supplications are also answered especially if done with sincerity


WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO VACATE ONE’S HEART FOR ALLAH (SWT)?

The term “vacate his heart for Allah (swt)” denotes that the person is totally absorbed by Allah (swt).

The wronged, the oppressed and the afflicted person totally vacates his heart at the time of supplication, so Allah (swt) answers his prayer as a result of his sincerity

Note:
Their hearts are completely sincere in the dua’a (supplication) to Allah (swt) because of the hurt and they have no one to turn to except for Allah (swt)
Therefore be careful of hurting people especially the oppressed

Hadith on people climbing the hill going to Paradise except for Ibn Ubay
Surah An-anam: If my Lord does not guide me… them among the losers (Noah/Ibrahim)
Iblees –asked respite until the Day of Judgment Hadith on entering Paradise
I want Paradise vs. save me from the Hellfire

KEEPING COMPANY OF THE SINCERE ONES AND BENEFITING FROM THEIR SINCERITY

Keep company of sincere people in order to benefit from their sincerity and supplications
The Prophet’s (saw) advice: “The devil seeks to establish his authority whenever there are three people in a village, or in the wilderness, or do not perform salah together. Keep together, for the wolf devours the lonely sheep.”

Note: No three people should be together except that they are praying, fasting or giving charity together.

Hadith on gatherings that remembering Allah (swt)

Hadith Qudsi 14: On the authority of Abu Harayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (PBUH), who said:

Allah (glorified and exalted be He) has supernumerary angels who rove about seeking out gatherings in which Allah's name is being invoked: they sit with them and fold their wings round each other, fillin that which is between them and between the lowest heavens. When [the people in the gathering] depart, [the angels] ascend and rise up to heaven. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h.) said: Then Allah (mighty and sublime be He) asks them - [though] He is most knowing about them: From where have you come? And they say: We have come from some servants of Yours on Earth: they were glorifying You (Subhanallah), exalting you (Allahu akbar), witnessing that there is no god but You (La ilaha illa llah), praising You (Al-Hamdu lillah), and asking [favours] of You. He says: And what do they ask of Me? They say: They ask of You Your Paradise. He says: And have they seen My Paradise? They say: No, O Lord. He says: And how would it be were they to have seen My Paradise! They say: And they ask protection of You. He says: From what do they ask protection of Me? They say: From Your Hell-fire, O Lord. He says: And have they seen My Hell-fire? They say: NO. He says: And how would it be were they to have seen My Hell-fire: They say: And they ask for Your forgiveness. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h) said: Then He says: I have forgiven them and I have bestowed upon them what they have asked for,and I have granted them sanctuary from that from which they asked protection. He (the Prophet (saw)) said: They say: O Lord, among then is So-and-so, a much sinning servant, who was merely passing by and sat down with them. He (the Prophet (saw)) said: And He says: And to him [too] I have given forgiveness: he who sits with such people shall not suffer.
It was related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari, at-Tirmidhi, and an-Nasa'i).
They are people in whose company no one is unfortunate.


VALUES OF SINCERITY IN ACTIONS

1. Sincerity in Tawheed
Understanding of Aqeedah
Practice of the Deen
Hadith on doors of heaven opening up for everyone who says “Laa Ilaha Illallahu” with sincerity

It is narrated on the authority of 'Uthman that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “He who died knowing (fully well) that there is no god but Allah entered Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0039)

It is narrated on the authority of Ubadah b. Samit that the messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed: He who said:" There is no god but Allah, He is One and there is no associate with Him, that Muhammad is his servant and His messenger, that Christ is servant and the son of His slave-girl and he (Christ) His word which He communicated to Mary and is His Spirit, that Paradise is a fact and Hell is a fact," Allah would make him (he who affirms these truths enter Paradise through any one of its eight doors which he would like. (Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0043)

It is narrated on the authority of Mu'adh b. Jabal: I was riding behind the Prophet (may peace be upon him) and there was nothing between him and me but the rear part of the saddle, when he said: Mu'adh b. Jabal: To which I replied: At your beck and call, and at your pleasure, Messenger of Allah! He moved along for a few minutes, when again he said: Mu'adh b. Jabal: To which I replied: At your beck and call, and at your pleasure, Messenger of Allah! He then again moved along for a few minutes and said: Mu'adh b. Jabal: To which I replied. At your beck and call, and at your pleasure. Messenger of Allah He, (the Holy Prophet) said: Do you know what right has Allah upon His servants? I said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Verily the right of Allah over His servants is that they should worship Him, not associating anything with Him. He (the Holy Prophet) with Mu'adh behind him, moved along for a few minutes and said: Mu'adh b. Jabal: To which I replied: At your beck and call, and at your pleasure, Messenger of Allah! He (the Holy Prophet) said: Do you know what rights have servants upon Allah in case they do it (i. e. they worship Allah without associating anything with Him)? I (Mu'adh b. Jabal) replied: Allah and His Messenger know best. (Upon this) he (the Holy Prophet) remarked: That He would not torment them (with the fire of Hell). (Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0046)

2. Sincerity in Intention
Hadith on saying “Laa Ilaha Illallahu” (There is no god but Allah) when one is dying

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (saw) as saying: Exhort to recite “There is no god but Allah,” to those of you who are dying. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1996)

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (saw) as saying: Exhort to recite “There is no god but Allah.” to those of you who are dying. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1998)

3. Sincerity in Salah
Hadith: Jannah is necessary for one who does a good wudu and stands and offers two rak’ahs in any salah. All his (minor) sins will be forgiven.

Humran, the freed slave of 'Uthman, said: Uthman b. 'Affan called for ablution water and this is how he performed the ablution. He washed his hands thrice. He then rinsed his mouth and cleaned his nose with water (three times). He then washed his face three times, then washed his right arm up to the elbow three times, then washed his left arm like that, then wiped his head; then washed his right foot up to the ankle three times, then washed his left foot like that, and then said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) perform ablution like this ablution of mine. Then the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: He who performs ablution like this ablution of mine and then stood up (for prayer) and offered two rak'ahs of prayer without allowing his thoughts to be distracted, all his previous sins are expiated. Ibn Shihab said: Our scholars remarked: This is the most complete of the ablutions performed for prayer. (Sahih Muslim, Book 002, Number 0436)

'Amr b Sa'id b al-As reported: I was, with Uthman that he called for ablution water and said: I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) say: When the time for a prescribed prayer comes, if any Muslim perform ablution well and offers his prayer) with humility and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin; and this applies to for all times. (Sahih Muslim, Book 002, Number 0441)

Advice on doing wudu: Think of all the things (especially the wrong ones) that you did involving the body part you are washing (e.g. thinking of all the bad things you said while washing the mouth, etc)

Narrated Nu'am Al-Mujmir: Once I went up the roof of the mosque, along with Abu Huraira. He perform ablution and said, "I heard the Prophet saying, "On the Day of Resurrection, my followers will be called "Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjalun" from the trace of ablution and whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so (i.e. by performing ablution regularly).' "(Sahih Bukahri, Volume 1, Book 4, Number 138)

4. Sincerity in Prostration
Hadith on the excellence of sujud (prostration) for Allah’s (swt) sake

Ma'dan b. Talha reported: I met Thauban, the freed slave of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), and asked him to tell me about an act for which, if I do it, Allah will admit me to Paradise, or I asked about the act which was loved most by Allah. He gave no reply. I again asked and he gave no reply. I asked him for the third time, and he said: I asked Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) about that and he said: Make frequent prostrations before Allah, for you will not make one prostration without raising you a degree because of it, and removing a sin from you, because of it. Ma'dan said that then lie met Abu al-Darda' and when he asked him, he received a reply similar to that given by Thauban. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 0989)

Rabi'a b. Ka'b said: I was with Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) one night and I brought him water and what he required. He said to me: Ask (anything you like). I said: I ask your company in Paradise. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Or anything else besides it. I said: That is all (what I require). He said: Then help me to achieve this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 0990)

5. Sincerity in Worshipping During Ramadan

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying: He who observed prayer at night during Ramadan, because of faith and seeking his reward from Allah, his previous sins would be forgiven. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1662)

6. Sincerity in Worshipping During the Night of Power (Lailat-ul- Qadr)

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying: He who observed the fasts of Ramadan with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven, and he who observed prayer on Lailat-ul-Qadr with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1664)

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) as saying: He who prayed on the Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Majestic Night) knowing that it is (the same night). I (believe) that he (the Holy Prophet also) said: (He who does) it with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), his sins would be forgiven. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1665)

7. Sincerity in the Love for the Mosque
Hadith: 7 given shade on Day of Judgment

Abu Huraira reported that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) had said: Seven are (the persons) whom Allah would give protection with His Shade on the Day when there would be no shade but that of Him (i. e. on the Day of Judgment, and they are): a just ruler, a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosques; two persons who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom a beautiful woman of high rank seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer by saying):" I fear Allah" ; a person who gives charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the right hand does not know what the left has given: and a person who remembered Allah in privacy and his eyes shed tears. (Sahih Muslim, Book 005, Number 2248)

8. Sincerity in the Leaving of the House for the Mosque
Hadith on the rewards of going to the mosque for prayers

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A man's prayer in congregation is more valuable than twenty degrees and some above them as compared with his prayer in his house and his market, for when he performs ablution doing it well, then goes out to the mosque, and he is impelled (to do so) only by (the love of congregational) prayer, he has no other objective before him but prayer. He does not take a step without being raised a degree for it and having a sin remitted for it, till he enters the mosque, and when he is busy in prayer after having entered the mosque. The angels continue to invoke blessing on him as long as he is in his place of worship saying: O Allah, show him mercy, and pardon him! Accept his repentance (and the angels continue this supplication for him) so long as he does not do any harm in it, or as long as his ablution is not broken. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1394)

9. Sincerity in Waiting in the Mosque

Hadith: Abu Musa reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The most eminent among human beings (as a recipient of) reward (is one) who lives farthest away, and who has to walk the farthest distance, and he who waits for the prayer to observe it along with the Imam, his reward is greater than one who prays (alone) and then goes to sleep. In the narration of Abu Kuraib (the words are):" (He waits) till he prays along with the Imam in congregation." (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1401)

10. Sincerity in Repeating what the Muadhin says
Hadith on the merits of repeating what the Muadhin says.

'Umar b. al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When the Mu'adhdhin says: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and one of you should make this response: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; (and when the Mu'adhdhin) says: I testify that there is no god but Allah, one should respond: I testify that there is no god but Allah, and when he says: I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, one should make a response: I testify that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: Come to prayer, one should make a response: There is no might and no power except with Allah. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: Come to salvation, one should respond: There is no might and no power except with Allah, and when he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, then make a response: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: There is no god but Allah, and he who makes a response from the heart: There is no god but Allah, he will enter Paradise. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 0748)

'Abdullah b. Amr b. al-As reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When you hear the Mu'adhdhin, repeat what he says, then invoke a blessing on me, for everyone who invokes a blessing on me will receive ten blessings from Allah; then beg from Allah al-Wasila for me, which is a rank in Paradise fitting for only one of Allah's servants, and I hope that I may be that one. If anyone who asks that I be given the Wasila, he will be assured of my intercession. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 0747)

11. Sincerity in Fasting
Hadith on the merits of fasting

Abu Sa'id al Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Every servant of Allah who observes fast for a day in the way of Allah, Allah would remove, because of this day, his face farther from the Fire (of Hell) to the extent of seventy years' distance. (Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2570)

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who observes fast for a day in the way of Allah He would remove his face from the Hell to the extent of seventy years' distance. (Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2572)

12. Sincerity in Giving Zakah

Hadith: It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that a bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, direct me to a deed by which I may be entitled to enter Paradise. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) remarked: You worship Allah and never associate anything with Him, establish the obligatory prayer, and pay the Zakat which is incumbent upon you, and observe the fast of Ramadan. He (the Bedouin) said: By Him in Whose hand is my life, I will never add anything to it, nor will I diminish anything from it. When he (the bedouin) turned his back, the Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: He who is pleased to see a man from the dwellers of Paradise should catch a glimpse of him. (Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0014)

Hadith: It is reported on the authority of Talha b. 'Ubaidullah that a person with disheveled hair, one of the people of Nejd, came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). We heard the humming of his voice but could not fully discern what he had been saying, till he came nigh to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). It was then (disclosed to us) that he was asking questions pertaining to Islam. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Five prayers during the day and the night. (Upon this he said: Am I obliged to say any other (prayer) besides these? He (the Holy Prophet,) said: No, but whatever you observe voluntarily, out of your own free will, and the fasts of Ramadan. The inquirer said: Am I obliged to do anything else besides this? He (the Holy Prophet) said: No, but whatever you do out of your own free will. And the Messenger of Allah told him about the Zakat (poor-rate). The inquirer said: Am I obliged to pay anything else besides this? He (the Holy Prophet) said: No, but whatever you pay voluntarily out of your own free will. The man turned back and was saying: I would neither make any addition to this, nor will decrease anything out of it. The Prophet remarked: He is successful, if he is true to what he affirms. (Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0007)