Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatu,
Brothers and Sisters, this information is very important to know, put to memory and to act upon insha'Allah.
An excerpt taken from Ibn Rajab al Hanbali's [Jami al Ulum Wal Hikam- Compendium of Knowledge and Wisdom pg.11 and 20] as follows:
Pg. 11,
First, that the action in its outward form should accord with the Sunnah, which the hadith of 'A’ishah implies,
“Whoever innovates in our affair that which is not from it, then it is rejected,”
Second, that by the action one inwardly intends the face of Allah,Subhanahu Wata'ala, as is implied by the hadith of 'Umar,
“Actions are only by intentions.”
About His words, exalted is He:
ليَِبُْلوَكُمْ أَيكُّمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً
“…to test which of you is best in action,”28
al-Fudayl said, “Most sincere and most correct.” He said, “If an action is sincerely intended but it is not correct it is not accepted, and if it is correct but it is not sincere it is not accepted until it is sincere and correct.” He said, “Sincerity is when it is for the sake of Allah, Subhanahu Wata'ala, Correctness is when it is according to the Sunnah.” Something that proves this thing that al-Fudayl said is His words,Subhanahu Wata'ala,
فَمَن كَانَ يرَْجُو لقَِاء رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلاً صَالِحاً وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَداً
“So let him who hopes to meet his Lord act rightly and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.”29
One of the gnostics said, “They are distinguished in terms of merit by their intentions, not by fasting and prayer.”
Pg. 20,
Yusuf ibn al-Husayn ar-RazÏ said, “The most difficult thing in the world is ikhlas(i.e. doing something purely for the Sake of Allah Alone). How I struggle to remove showing off from my heart and it is as if it grows in it again with other colours.”
FOOTNOTES;
28 Surat al-Mulk: 2
29 Surat al-Kahf: 110
We have learned the 2 ingredients which will lead for our deeds to be accepted by Allah, Subhanahu Wata'ala;
#1. Having Ikhlas, doing the deed purely for the sake of Allah Alone
#2. According to the Sunnah of Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alahe wa salam).
These 2 conditions must be presented together to make the deed correct and complete.
post by brother Ibrahim
Jazahullah Khairan Katheera
