Al-Ikhlaas is the practical side of An-niyyat. When the act (an utterance or a practical deed) is actually done for the sake of seeking Allah's pleasure then it is Al-Ikhlaas.

The An-niyyat is just what is in the believing heart. Sound An-niyyat is therefore the foundation upon which Al-Ikhlaas is built. No wonder, in a popular saying of the Prophet (SAW), He (SAW) is reported to have said, "all actions are judged according to intentions..." (Recorded by Bukharin, Muslim and others).

True manifestations of Al-Ikhlaas

For the true possession of Al-Ikhlaas, the following elements must be taken care of:

• Any action being done by the believer must be geared towards seeking Allah's pleasure and not for the praise of people or for a reward from them.

Simply put, the action must be done for Allah's sake. The judge, Alfudail Bin Ayyaad said, "any act that is put up for the sake of others (people) is "shirk" (associating other beings with Allah, the Almighty ) and leaving an act for the sake of people is a disposition of showing off. Real Al-ikhlaas is to stay Away from the above two acts".

It has to be added that showing off is an act of "shirk" in the sight of the Creator, the Almighty.

• What is within the heart of the sincere believer must be compatible with what he/she puts up outside. In other words, what is within the heart must equally express itself in deeds.

• The sincere believer is not bothered by the praise and rebuke of others. What this means is that whether the sincere believer receives praise from people or not, he is not bothered at all. He/She is only focused on what he/she is doing sincerely for the Creator's sake.

• The sincere believer must not look at the level of his sincerity (Al-ikhlaas ) and be proud of it. He must be humble, express gratitude to the Creator, the Almighty and ask for His protection at all times.

• The sincere believer must have faith in the undeniable fact that the Creator, the All-knowing, will reward him/her in the Hereafter for his/her deed. This reward should be viewed as a generous gesture from his/her Lord, the Almighty.

• Constantly, the sincere believer must have the fear of allowing the elements of showing off and the pursuit of personal desires to taint his/her works.

In view of the strict conditions and elements associated with Al-ikhlaas (sincerity of heart) it has become one of the most difficult dogmatic elements in the lives of believers and very few of them have it.

This makes it absolutely necessary that the believer constantly prays to the Creator, the Almighty, to bless him/her with it.

Status of Al-Ikhlaas

Al-ikhlaas occupies a unique status in Islam. Without it, the deeds of a servant of Allah, the Almighty, will not be accepted by Him, the Omnipotent. Indeed, this has been drawn home clearly, repeatedly and categorically by the Qur'an and Al-Sunnat.

The Qur'an states:

"Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book, (O Muhammad ) in truth. So worship Allah, (being) sincere to Him in religion ". Qur'an 39:3.

"Say, Allah (Alone) do I worship, sincere to Him in my religion. " Qur'an 39:14.

"Say, Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds ". Qur'an 6:162.

"And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, (being) sincere to Him in religion..." Qur'an 98:5

"And who is better in religion than who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining towards truth?" Qur'an 4:125

"... so whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord -let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."

In respect of Al-Sunnat on Al-ikhlaas, the Prophet said:

"Anyone who exhibits brotherly love for Allah's sake, exhibits hatred for Allah's sake, shows kindness for Allah's sake and does give out what he has for Allah's sake had acquired faith in its complete state". (Recorded By Abu Dauud and others).

"There are three qualities when anyone has them enjoys, Faith: to love Allah and His Messenger more than anyone else, to love a person for Allah's sake and to abhor going back to the state of disbelief (after Allah had saved him from it as he hates to be thrown into the Hellfire)." (Agreed upon by all scholars of hadith).

The writer is a Theologian /Educationist

Ishaakn25@yahoo.com