Hadith #3181

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 provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

Through sincerity, deeds are raised (i.e. are accepted).

This beautiful Hadith emphasizes the importance of sincerity in our actions and worship. Let us delve deeper into the meaning of this Hadith in light of the Quran.

The key word in this Hadith is (ikhlas) "إخْلاص", which translates to sincerity. Ikhlas refers to the purity and sincerity of intention behind our actions. It is the act of performing deeds solely for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), seeking His pleasure and not desiring any worldly gain or recognition. It is the opposite of showing off or seeking validation from others.

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) emphasizes the importance of sincerity in numerous verses of the Quran. In Surah Al-Bayyinah, Allah says, (Quran 98:5)

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 highlights that sincerity is the foundation of true worship. It is not enough to merely perform acts of worship; they must be done with a pure and sincere heart, solely for the sake of Allah. This sincerity should be reflected in our prayers, our charity, and all other acts of worship.

Another verse that emphasizes the importance of sincerity is found in Surah Al-Zumar, where Allah says, (Quran 39:2)

So worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, although the disbelievers dislike it.

This verse reminds us that sincerity in worship is not dependent on the approval or acceptance of others. Even if the disbelievers dislike our devotion to Allah, we should remain steadfast and sincere in our worship, seeking His pleasure alone.

Now, let us reflect on the impactful message of Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith. When he says,

Through sincerity, deeds are raised (i.e. are accepted),

he is highlighting the fact that sincerity is the key to the acceptance of our deeds by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

When we perform acts of worship with sincerity, we are aligning ourselves with the true purpose of our existence - to worship Allah alone. Our intentions become pure, and our actions are elevated in the sight of Allah. This elevates the status of our deeds and ensures their acceptance.

On the other hand, if our intentions are tainted with insincerity, such as seeking praise or recognition from others, our deeds lose their value and may even be rejected by Allah. This is because our intentions are a crucial aspect of our worship, and Allah looks beyond the outward actions to the sincerity of our hearts.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith serves as a reminder for us to constantly evaluate our intentions and strive for sincerity in all aspects of our lives. Whether it is in our acts of worship, our interactions with others, or our pursuit of knowledge, we should always seek to purify our intentions and seek the pleasure of Allah alone.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us that sincerity is the key to the acceptance of our deeds by Allah. By performing acts of worship with pure intentions, solely for the sake of Allah, we elevate the status of our deeds and ensure their acceptance. May Allah grant us the ability to cultivate sincerity in all our actions and grant us success in this life and the hereafter.