Hadith #3182

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

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states, "بِالإخْلاصِ يَتَفاضَلُ العُمّالُ۔" This can be translated as,

Through sincerity, the doers of good deeds contend for excellence.

Let us begin by understanding the key words in this Hadith. The word (ikhlas) "إخْلاصِ" refers to sincerity or purity of intention. It is the act of performing good deeds solely for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) without any ulterior motives or seeking any worldly gain. The word (yatafadhalu) "يَتَفاضَلُ" means to compete or strive for superiority. And the word (al-'ummal) "العُمّالُ" refers to the doers of good deeds.

To understand the wise message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:27),

And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice [to Allah], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], 'I will surely kill you.' Said [the former], 'Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].'

This verse highlights the importance of sincerity in our actions. Both sons of Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) offered a sacrifice, but only one of them had his sacrifice accepted by Allah. The difference lay in their sincerity. The one whose sacrifice was accepted was the one who offered it purely for the sake of Allah, while the other had ulterior motives. This teaches us that true excellence and acceptance of our deeds is contingent upon sincerity.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Bayyinah (98:5), Allah says,

And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.

This verse emphasizes the importance of sincerity in worship. Our acts of worship, such as prayer and giving zakah, should be performed solely for the sake of Allah, with a sincere and pure heart.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith reminds us that sincerity is the key to excellence in our actions. When we perform good deeds with sincerity, we strive to excel in our worship, seeking the pleasure of Allah alone. Sincerity purifies our intentions, ensuring that our actions are not tainted by worldly desires or seeking the praise of others.

Sincerity also motivates us to perform our deeds in the best possible manner. When we are sincere, we strive for excellence in every aspect of our worship, whether it be in our prayers, acts of charity, or interactions with others. We are motivated to perfect our actions, knowing that Allah deserves nothing less than our best.

The consequences of sincerity are profound. When we are sincere in our worship, our deeds become a means of drawing closer to Allah and attaining His pleasure. Our actions become a reflection of our love and devotion to Him. Sincerity also brings about a sense of peace and contentment, as we are no longer burdened by the need for validation or recognition from others.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we are reminded of the importance of constantly purifying our intentions and seeking sincerity in all our actions. We should strive to excel in our worship, not for the sake of competition with others, but to attain the pleasure of Allah. Let us make sincerity the foundation of our deeds, and may Allah accept our efforts and grant us success in this world and the Hereafter.

And Allah knows best.