Hadith #3194

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure and noble Ahl al-Bayt, and his righteous companions.

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

No one preserves his reward except the one who makes his action sincere.

This impactful Hadith emphasizes the importance of sincerity in our actions and highlights its role in preserving our rewards in the sight of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

Let us delve into the key words of this Hadith to gain a deeper understanding. The word (yuhrizu) "يُحرِزُ" means to preserve or safeguard, while (al-ajr) "الأجْرَ" refers to the reward or recompense. (akhlasa) "أخْلَصَ" signifies sincerity, purity, and exclusivity in one's intentions and actions. And finally, (amalahu) "عَمَلَهُ" refers to one's deeds or actions.

To further comprehend the significance of sincerity in preserving our rewards, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Zumar (39:3),

Is it not to Allah that sincere religion is due?

This verse highlights that true and sincere religion is solely for the sake of Allah, and any act of worship or righteous deed should be performed with utmost sincerity to earn His pleasure and reward.

Additionally, in Surah Al-Bayyinah (98:5), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states,

And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth.

This verse emphasizes that the purpose of our worship and religious obligations is to sincerely submit to Allah alone, without any ulterior motives or desires for worldly gain or recognition.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith reminds us that true sincerity lies in performing our actions solely for the sake of Allah, seeking His pleasure and not the praise or approval of others. When we strive to purify our intentions and make our actions sincere, we preserve and safeguard the rewards of our deeds in the sight of Allah.

For instance, if a person prays with the intention of showing off or seeking praise from others, their act of worship loses its sincerity and may not be accepted by Allah. On the other hand, if someone prays sincerely, purely seeking the pleasure of Allah, their reward is preserved and multiplied.

The consequences of lacking sincerity in our actions can be severe. In Surah Al-Munafiqun (63:1-2), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) describes the hypocrites who perform acts of worship to be seen by others but do not have true faith in their hearts. He says,

They took their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allah. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.

This highlights the danger of insincerity, as it not only diminishes the reward of our actions but also leads to hypocrisy and deception.

Reflecting on Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith, we are reminded of the importance of constantly purifying our intentions and seeking sincerity in all our actions. Whether it is in our prayers, acts of charity, or interactions with others, we should strive to make our intentions solely for the sake of Allah. By doing so, we not only preserve our rewards but also strengthen our relationship with our Creator and attain spiritual growth.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to make our actions sincere and accept them from us. May He guide us to always seek His pleasure and preserve our rewards in this world and the Hereafter. And may He bless us with the company of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and the Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in Paradise.