Imagine thousands of content individuals, whose garments are so beautiful the human mind cannot grasp their texture, whose faces will be shone as the moon on a clear night, whose shade will be the branches of fine trees whereupon fruit dangle, whose desires will be fulfilled upon the mere thought of anything, and whose protection will be Allah (SWT). The concept of the two angels (Kiraman Katibeen – Noble Writers) that write each breath, muscle movement and action that we take has been stamped into the minds of most individuals from a very young age. It is therefore, reasonable to presume and understand that each act can be divided into two very broad categories, those that are considered acts of ibaadah (worship) and those which are not. Ibn Katheer defines worship, or ‘ibaadah, as, “…a state which combines the perfection of love, submission, and fear…” and Ibn Taymiyyah adds that ‘ibaadah is a comprehensive term, encompassing all apparent and hidden acts and statements that are beloved to Allah (SWT).” Through the infinite blessings of Allah we have been given various ways to fulfill our obligation of ‘ibaadah. Thus the first thing which a Muslim acknowledges is that he has been created for Ibaadah and that is due to his declaration of Laa ilaaha illallaaha (There is none worthy of worship except Allah alone). From amongst the different components of ‘ibaadah, (conformity and combining love, fear, and hope with each action) extreme sincerity in the action itself is essential. In a Hadeeth Qudsee the Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) said that Allah said “I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having partners. Thus, whoever does an action for someone else’s sake as well as Mine, will have that action rejected by Me to him whom he associated with Me” [Muslim]. Shaykh Ahmad Fareed defines ikhlaas as “the purification of one’s intentions in order to draw closer to Allah (SWT)” and he adds that ikhlaas (sincerity) is a condition for Allah to accept those righteous actions that are done in accordance with the Sunnah. This is blatantly obvious when Allah says, “And they have not been commanded except to worship Allah alone, having ikhlaas (purity of intention) in their religion and not setting-up partners with Allah in the worship of Him.” [Al-Bayyinah: 5].
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