We don't have a problem performing good deeds externally, but we forget about our intention. We need to perform good deeds with sincerity. The intention does not need to be professed loudly. But you need to ask yourself why you are fasting, why you are praying, etc. Remind yourself of the goal. You need to have a good intention from the beginning of the good deed until the end to get the full reward.
The heart is called قلب in Arabic because it is constantly turning. We need to constantly renew our intention and turn our hearts back to Allah. This is Tawheed.
We have to start training ourselves from now.
How can I become a sincere person?
1) Knowledge about Allah
2) Fasting
It is a secret act of worship. Nobody knows it's a secret between you and Allah.
The scholars said that on the Day of Judgement, when people will take their rights and you'll have to pay the person you wronged in good deeds, all your other deeds will be taken except for fasting.
3) Remind yourself that no one can bring good or drive evil away except Allah.
Don't let your heart be attached to the people. They will never be able to benefit you. Only Allah can benefit you. We can't even benefit ourselves unless Allah wills. Only once we get people out of our hearts will we gain more sincerity. Concerns that have to do with other than Allah weakens sincerity.
4) Remember the meeting with Allah
HADITH: There are two moments of joy for the fasting person...etc
5) Remember that the reward of a deed is according to your intention.
The woman who gave water to the thirsty dog did it out of sincerity. It is what's in your heart that matters the most.
No one knows which deed is accepted by Allah regardless if it is small or major. There are people who built huge mosques but it wasn't accepted from them because their hearts swayed towards the people.
6) Remember that if your heart turns towards the people Allah can make the people displeased with you because Allah will be displeased with you. It shouldn't bother you if the people are displeased with you if your concern is to please Allah. He will make the people pleased with you one day.
7) Know that the Shaytan can easily overpower the heart which is void of sincerity.
In (38:82-83)
8) Know that sincerity is a protection. Allah will protect you in bad times if you are sincere.
Allah protected the Prophet Yusuf due to his sincerity.
9) Know that sincerity is a means of forgiveness.
HADITH: 'O son of Adam if you come with me full of sins I will come to you with forgiveness as long as you don't practice Shirk'
سورة البقرة
One of the means that helps a person become sincere is knowledge about Allah. The Qur'an is filled with Allah's names and attributes. We have the Qur'an but why is there no effect of it in our hearts? Why do our hearts still turn to the people?
The Qur'an requires Ihsan. It is a guide in our life. We need to recite it with pondering and contemplation, not just mere recitation.
Magicians cannot bear sura Al baqarah. It is like a shield if you know what it contains. The last two verses of the Surah have been sent down from a treasure under the throne of Allah.
The theme of the Surah is about succession on the earth.
In the beginning of the Surah Allah talks about the three categories of people:
- Believers
- Disbelievers
- Hypocrites
In Verse 21-22:
This is the first command in the Qur'an. Our instincts should guide us to worship Allah alone.
In verse 30 Allah mentioned about the Prophet Adam. You don't find the word خليفه except in this Surah. After this story, Allah mentioned the bad examples of successors in the land, and that is the example of the Jews. They were ungrateful and even killed their Prophet. This is what the Angels previously feared. Verses 40-124 is all about Bani Israel.
In Verse 124 Allah mentioned the role model on earth, and that was the Prophet Ibrahim. Allah commanded Ibrahim to submit himself to Allah, and Ibrahim commanded this to his children. Succession on the land will not be fulfilled except with establishing Islam.
Verse 142-184 discusses the best nation on the earth, and that is the nation of the Prophet Muhammed. In order to be the best, they required laws. They needed legislations like fasting, charity, Hajj, rules pertaining to marriage, breastfeeding, divorce, etc.
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