Reflection by Sister Khadija
In a recent Ilm Circle, Dr. Syed spoke about a quality that is integral for each and every Muslim. It is something that we often hear but brush off, thinking that it can be switched on and off instantly.
That quality is ikhlaas, or sincerity.
I recently received another reminder on ikhlaas before beginning a project – if you really want to reach people’s hearts, you’ve got to have ikhlaas.
What is this simple quality, so important yet so often overlooked? This is something that even scholars of the past said they struggled with.
‘Amir al-Sha’bi reported: Umar ibn Al-Khattab wrote to Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with them both, saying, “Whoever purifies his intention, Allah will take care of his affairs between people. Whoever embellishes for people what Allah knows is not in his heart, Allah Almighty will disgrace him.”
Source: Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’ 1/50
Even during our Ilm Circle halaqa, we learned that we don’t know when we’ll only be left with our intentions. When we find our intentions are pure, acts of ibadah will become easy – we can attract others with pure intentions, it improves relationships, and our work is blessed.
So the next time you start a project or any task, ask yourself why you are doing it and if it is being done according to the Qur’an and Sunnah. It is a simple yet powerful combination, and as Dr. Syed said,
“With Ikhlaas, there’s no loss.”
