I was walking past a group of young boys, and noticed his money had fallen out of his pocket, without thinking twice, I called the group and pointed out that someone had dropped their money. He replied; ‘Awh, nice one!’. I carried on walking like it was a normal everyday thing to do without expecting a thank you, or any gain. The shock on the boys face, and the look of relief, and to give without expecting any thing back, gave me the contentment in my heart, and it was nothing that any feeling could compare to. Realising that Allah (swt) was watching was enough for me. Sincerity is something which is pure, because its born from within the heart, and with it adds beauty to the actions. It sprouts it, and makes them flourish. Its roots are from love, goodness and the best which is not wanting any gain.

Sincerity can be something which is sometimes hard to achieve, especially when we have alot of potential gain from our actions. Yet, in this life sometimes, the best things are the hardest to achieve. It’s something worth striving for, because sincere actions are those which never go to waste. Sincere actions are those which we will insh’Allah find in the hereafter. A great action can be reduced to a mustard seed when the praise of a people is involved. The seeking of praise burns out your efforts, and the praise itself no matter how great it maybe can easily underestimate the potential of the action. The sting of criticism is only felt from the one who sought praise and acceptance. The sweetness of an action is felt from the one who was sincere, when you sit in prayer and you remember that time when you conducted a sincere act, and standing there presenting it to your Lord, is the best of states. How do does one know they were sincere? Because your heart feels at ease, and places a ray of light upon your heart. Whereas the one who sought gain in their action, will continuously either regret their action because of the lack of recognition of it, and their heart is left restless, or a false sense of happiness if any wordly gain was achieved.

Sincerity in intention is a matter between man and his Creator; nobody else can know the real intentions of people except Allaah. A man who attains sincerity in intention does not consider whether others will praise, accuse or exalt or abase him, be aware of his deeds or not, or whether he will even gain reward or not in return for his deeds. He considers only the pleasure of Allaah Who “…knows the secret and what is (even) more hidden.” [Quran 20:7]

Ibn Al Qayyim (May Allah have mercy on his soul) says:

Sincerity cannot coexist in a heart that contains the love of praise and commendation and the yearning to possess that which is owned by the people save in the manner that fire and water or a lizard and fish may coexist. If your soul directs you to seek sincerity then first turn your attention towards your yearning and slaughter it with the knife of renunciation. Then turn your attention towards praise and commendation and forsake it with the asceticism of those who loved the world for the sake of the Hereafter. When your slaughtering of your yearning and the renunciation of praise and commendation becomes firm then attaining sincerity will become easy for you.

Let us strive to be sincere.