Hadith #4276

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 progeny, and his noble companions.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the importance of sincerity in our actions and warns against seeking recognition and fame. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to work solely for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and not for the approval or praise of others. He states,

Work without seeking to show off or for the sake of renown, for indeed the one who works for other than Allah is left by Allah to the one whom he worked for.

Let us delve deeper into the key words of this Hadith to gain a better understanding. The word (other than) "غَيْرِ" refers to anything or anyone other than Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). It encompasses seeking the pleasure, approval, or recognition of people instead of seeking the pleasure of Allah. The word (showing off) "رِياء" refers to performing acts of worship or good deeds with the intention of gaining praise or admiration from others. It is an insincere act that lacks true devotion to Allah. The word (renown) "سُمْعَة" refers to seeking fame or a good reputation for one's actions. It involves performing deeds to enhance one's social status or to be recognized as virtuous by society.

To understand the significance of sincerity in our actions, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Mumtahanah (60:4),

There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: 'Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone.'

This verse highlights the unwavering commitment of Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and his followers to worship Allah alone, without seeking the approval or acceptance of their people. They were willing to face animosity and hatred for the sake of their sincerity and devotion to Allah. Similarly, we should strive to be like them and prioritize the pleasure of Allah over the opinions and recognition of others.

Another verse that supports the importance of sincerity is found in Surah Al-Kahf (18:110), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Whoever should hope for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.

This verse emphasizes the need to perform righteous deeds solely for the sake of Allah, without associating any partners with Him. It reminds us that our actions should be driven by a genuine desire to please Allah, rather than seeking the approval or recognition of others.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith serves as a reminder that our intentions and motivations behind our actions are crucial. If we work for the sake of Allah, seeking His pleasure alone, then Allah will accept our efforts and reward us accordingly. However, if we work for the approval of others or for personal gain, then Allah may leave us to the one whom we sought to please, depriving us of His blessings and rewards.

This Hadith encourages us to reflect on our intentions and motivations in our daily lives. It reminds us to constantly evaluate our actions and ensure that they are driven by sincerity and devotion to Allah. By doing so, we can attain true spiritual growth and closeness to Allah, and we can avoid falling into the trap of seeking recognition and fame. May Allah grant us the ability to work sincerely for His sake and may He accept our efforts.