13. Sincerity in Giving Charity
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth and the servant who forgives Allah adds to his respect, and the one who shows humility Allah elevates him in the estimation (of the people). (Book 032, Number 6264: Muslim)
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: One who makes efforts (for earning to be spent) on a widow and the destitute is like a striver in the cause of Allah, and I think he also said: He is like one who constantly stands for prayer and observes fast without breaking it. (Book 042, Number 7107 Muslim)
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: One who looks after the orphan whether he is his relative or not, I and he would be together in Paradise like this, and Malik (explained it) with the gesture by drawing his index finger and middle finger close together. (Book 042, Number 7108 Muslim)
Abu Huraira reported: While a person was in the wilderness he heard a voice from the cloud (commanding it thus): Irrigate the garden of so and so. (After that the clouds slinked aside and poured water on a stony ground. It filled a channel amongst the channels of that land and that person followed that water and he found a person standing in the garden busy in changing the course of water with the help of a hatchet. He said to him: Servant of Allah, what is your name? He said: So and so. And it was that very name which he had heard from the clouds. And he said to him: Servant of Allah, why do you ask me my name? He said: I beard a voice from the clouds of which It is the downpour, saying: Water the garden of so and to like your name. What do you do (for the favour) shown to you by Allah in this matter? He said: Now as you state so. I look what yield I get from it and I give one-third as charity out of it and I and my children eat one-third of it and one-third I return to it as investment. (Book 042, Number 7112 Muslim)
14. Sincerity in Hajj
Hadith Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (saw) as saying. He who came to this House (Ka'ba) (with the intention of performing Pilgrimage), and neither spoke indecently nor did he act wickedly would return (free from sin) as on the (very first day) his mother bore him. (Sahih Muslim, Book 007, Number 3129)
15. Sincerity in Seeking Martyrdom
Hadith on seeking martyrdom, even if one dies on his bed his reward his like those of the martyr
Khalid Bin Walid
16. Sincerity in Guarding the Frontiers (or War Camps)
Hadith on the benefits of guarding the frontiers
Narrated Sahl bin Sad As-Sa'di: Allah's Apostle said, "To guard Muslims from infidels in Allah's Cause for one day is better than the world and whatever is on its surface, and a place in Paradise as small as that occupied by the whip of one of you is better than the world and whatever is on its surface; and a morning's or an evening's journey which a slave (person) travels in Allah's Cause is better than the world and whatever is on its surface." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 52, Number 142)
Salman Al-Farisi (ra) narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: “Keeping watch for a day and a night is better in reward than fasting and observing late night prayer for a whole month. If such a man dies while performing his duty, his (meritorious) deeds will continue and he will keep on receiving his reward for it perpetually, and will be saved from the test of the grave.” (Muslim 1075)
17. Sincerity in Equipping Warriors
Hadith: Whoever equips a warrior while in the midst of battle, Allah (swt) will give him a reward similar to the reward of the warrior.
Narrated Zaid bin Khalid: Allah's Apostle said, " He who prepares a Ghazi going in Allah's Cause is given a reward equal to that of a Ghazi; and he who looks after properly the dependents of a Ghazi going in Allah's Cause is (given a reward equal to that of) Ghazi." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 52, Number 96)
Narrated AbuUmamah: The Prophet (saw) said: He who does not join the warlike expedition (jihad), or equip, or looks well after a warrior's family when he is away, will be smitten by Allah with a sudden calamity. Yazid ibn Abdu Rabbihi said in his tradition: 'before the Day of Resurrection". (Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2497)
18. Sincerity in Jihad
Hadith on martyrs, 3 people of the hellfire
Hadith Qudsi 27: On the authority of Masruq, who said:
We asked Abdullah (i.e. Ibn Masud) about this verse: And do not regard those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead, rather are they alive with their Lord, being provided for (Quran Chapter 3 Verse 169). He said: We asked about that and the Prophet (pbuh) said: Their souls are in the insides of green birds having lanterns suspended from the Throne, roaming freely in Paradise where they please, then taking shelter in those lanterns. So their Lord cast a glance at them (1) and said: Do you wish for anything? They said: What shall we wish for when we roam freely in Paradise where we please? And thus did He do to them three times. When they say that they would not be spared from being asked [again], they said: O Lord, we would like for You to put back our souls into our bodies so that we might fight for Your sake once again. And when He saw that they were not in need of anything they were let be.
(1) i.e. at those who had been killed in the cause of Allah.
It was related by Muslim (also by at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah).
t Anas bin Malik (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “A single trip in an expedition, or a trip back from fighting in the Cause of Allah is better than the whole world and what it contains.” (Bukhari 2792, Muslim 1076)
19. Sincerity in Repentance
Hadith on one committing 99 murders
“There was a man before you who had committed 99 murders and then wanted to repent. So he asked the most knowledgeable man in the area if he could repent. This person said no, so he murdered him as well and completed his 100 murders. Then he asked another wise person who told him that he could repent and told him to leave the area and move to a place where people worshipped Allah. He started out on his journey. However, he died half way to his destination, so the angels of mercy and punishment argued over him. The angels of mercy said that he had repented and had made his way to the town, but the angels of punishment said that he had never performed a good deed in his life. So an angel came to them in the form of a man and told them that to measure the distance between the two places. They did so and found out that he was actually closer to the destination than his home town, the angels of mercy claimed his case”. (Bukhari and Muslim)
Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah's Apostle said, "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert." (Sahih Muslim, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 321)
20. Sincerity in Seeking Forgiveness
Hadith in asking for forgiveness
“Allaahumma Anta Rabbee laa ilaaha illa Anta, khalaqtanee wa anaa ‘abduka, wa anaa ‘alaa ‘ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, a’uthu bika min sharri maa sana’tu, aboo’u laka bini’matika ‘alayya, wa aboo’u bithanbee faghfir lee fa-innahu laa yaghfiruth-thunooba illaAnta.”
O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship but You. You created me and I am Your slave. I keep Your covenant, and my pledge to you so far as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil that I have done. I admit to Your blessings upon me, and I admit to my misdeeds. Forgive me, for there is none who may forgive sins but You.
Whoever recites this with conviction in the evening and dies during the night shall enter Paradise, and whoever recites this with conviction in the morning and dies during the day shall enter Paradise (Bukhari 7/150; An-Nasai; At-Tirmidhi)
Hadith Qudsi 34: On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say: Allah the Almighty said:
O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great at it.
It was related by at-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.
21. Sincerity in Crying
Hadith: 7 shades
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)
22. Sincerity in Remembering Allah (swt)
See above hadith
23. Sincerity in Observing the Truth
'Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: It is obligatory for you to tell the truth, for truth leads to virtue and virtue leads to Paradise, and the man who continues to speak the truth and endeavors to tell the truth is eventually recorded as truthful with Allah, and beware of telling of a lie for telling of a lie leads to obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell-Fire, and the person who keeps telling lies and endeavors to tell a lie is recorded as a liar with Allah. (Sahih Muslim, Book 032, Number 6309)
Abu Huraira reported that he heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The servant speaks words for which he is sent down to the Hell-Fire farther than the distance between the cast and the west. (Book 042, Number 7120)
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The servant speaks words that he does not understand its repercussions but he sinks down in Hell-Fire farther than the distance between the east and the west. (Book 042, Number 7121)
24. Sincerity in Patience
Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said: “The invocation of anyone of you is granted if it does not involve a sin or relatives and womb relationship abandonment. And if he does not show impatience by saying, ‘I invoke Allah but my request has not been granted,’ and feels desperate and invokes no more.” (Bukhari 6340, Muslim 1877)
25. Sincerity in Relying upon Allah (swt) – Tawakkul
26. Sincerity in Love and Visiting someone for the sake of Allah (swt)
t Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “Verily, Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Where are those who love each other for My Glory’s sake? Today I shall shelter them in My Shadow when there is no shadow other than Mine.’” (Muslim 1768)
27. Sincerity in Obeying Parents
Abu Bakrah (ra) narrated: “We were with the Messenger of Allah (saw) and he said: “Shall I inform you of the greatest of the major sins? (He repeated it thrice): (1) To ascribe partners to Allah, (2) to disobey parents, and (3) to give a false testimony.” The Messenger of Allah (saw) was reclining then he sat and he kept repeating it until we said would that he stop.”
28. Sincerity in Avoiding Sinful Acts for Allah’s (swt) Sake
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (ra): “The Prophet (saw) narrating about his Lord (azzawajal) said: Allah ordered (the appointed angels over you) that the good and bad deeds be written, and He showed (the way) how (to write). If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him); and if he intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allah will write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times to many more times; and if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually did it, then Allah will write one bad deed (in his account).”
29. Sincerity in Giving Wages to Employees
Hadith: Three people trapped in the cave (See Appendix of previous article on sincerity). Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar…The Prophet (saw) added, “Then the third man said, ‘O Allah! I employed a few laborers and I paid them with their wages with the exemption of one man who did not take his wages and went away. I invested his wages and I got much property thereby. (Then after some time) he came and said to me: O Allah’s slave! Pay me my wages. Is said to him: All the camels, cows, sheep and slaves you see, are yours. He said: O Allah’s slave! Don’t mock at me. I said: I am not mocking at you. So, he took all the herd and drove them away and left nothing. O Allah! If I did that for Your sake only, please relieve us from the present suffering.’ So, the rock shifted completely and the got out walking.”
30. Sincerity in Intention even if the Action is not realized
31. Sincerity in Abstaining from the World (Asceticism)
Narrated Son of a Companion: The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) said: He then mentioned a similar tradition described above. This version has: Allah will fill his heart with security and faith. He did not mention the words "Allah will call him". This version further adds: He who gives up wearing beautiful garments when he is able to do so (out of humility, as Bishr's version has) will be clothed by Allah with the robe of honour, and he who marries for Allah's sake will be crowned by Allah with the crown of Kingdom. (Book 41, Number 4760: Abu Dawood)
32. Sincerity in Humbleness
Narrated Haritha bin Wahb: I heard the Prophet saying, “Shall I tell you of the people of Paradise? They comprise every poor humble person, and if he swears by Allah to do something, Allah will fulfill it; while the people of the fire comprise every violent, cruel arrogant person.” (Volume 8, Book 78, Number 651: Bukhari)
Haritha b. Wahb al-KhuzaIi reported Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying: May I not inform you about the inmates of Paradise? (And then informing about them) said: Every meek person who is considered to be humble and if they were to adjure in the name of Allah, Allah would certainly fulfill it. May I not inform you about the inmates of Hell-Fire? They are all proud, mean and haughty. (Book 040, Number 6835: Sahih Muslim)
33. Sincerity in Constructing Mosques
Abdullah al-Khaulani reported that when Uthman b. 'Affan tried to rebuild the mosque of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) the people began to talk about this. Uthman b. 'Affan said: You discuss it very much whereas I have heard Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying: He who builds a mosque-- and the narrator Bukair said: I think he also said: (for) seeking the pleasure of Allah- Allah would build (a similar house for him in Paradise). and in the narration of Harun (the words are):" A house for him in Paradise." (Book 042, Number 7109)
Narrated 'Ubdaidullah Al-Khaulani: I heard 'Uthman bin 'Affan saying, when people argued too much about his intention to reconstruct the mosque of Allah's Apostle, "You have talked too much. I heard the Prophet saying, 'Whoever built a mosque, (Bukair thought that 'Asim, another subnarrator, added, "Intending Allah's Pleasure"), Allah would build for him a similar place in Paradise.'” (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 441)
34. Sincerity in Visiting the Mosque of the Prophet (saw) for the sake of learning and teaching
Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) said: A woman fell ill and she said: “If Allah cures me, I will certainly go and perform prayer in Bait-ul-Maqdis (in Jerusalem).” When she recovered, she made preparations to go (to that place). She came to Maimunah, the wife of Allah’s Prophet (saw), and after greeting her she informed her about it, whereupon she said, “Stay here, and eat (the provision) which you have made, and pray in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (saw) for I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: “One prayer in it is better than one thousand prayers performed in other mosques except the mosque of the Ka’bah.’”
35. Sincerity in Equipping Warriors
Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “He who equips a fighter (with weapon and transport), will get reward as if he fought himself. And he who takes care of a fighter’s family, will be considered a fighter too.” (Bukhari 1143, Muslim 1092)
36. Sincerity in following the hearse of a Muslim
t Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who attends the funeral till the prayer is offered for (the dead), for him is the reward of one qirat, and he who attends (and stays) till he is buried, for him is the reward of two qirats. It was said: What are the qirats? He said: They are equivalent to two huge mountains. Two other narrators added: Ibn 'Umar used to pray and then depart (without waiting for the burial of the dead). When the tradition of Abu Huraira reached him, he said:" We have lost many qirats." (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 2062)
37. Sincerity in Feeding People
Surah Al-Insan (Man) or Ad-Dhar (Time)
7. They (are those who) fulfill (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading.
8. And they give food, inspite of their love it (or for the Love of Him), to the Miskin (the poor), the orphan and the captive,
9. (Saying): “We feed you seeking Allah’s Countenance only. We wish no reward, nor thanks from you.”
10. “Verily, We fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislike to it).”
11. So Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them Nadrah (a light of beauty) and joy.
12. And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient.
38. Sincerity in Dua’a
Fear ALLAH Wherever You Are!
The Obedient
