IN one of the battles waged against the Romans, Muslims - under the commandment of Maslamah - surrounded a city that had a tall and well-fortified wall. The siege went on for months. Then one night, one of the Muslim soldiers informed General Maslamah that he managed to make a hole in the wall. “It is only large enough for a slim soldier.” He knelt closer. “Quickly, send with me someone who can squeeze through and fight the army on the inside until he has opened the gates for all of us to enter.” Maslamah sent out the news and that night someone volunteered. In a sweeping assault, the gate was opened and Muslims were victorious. Maslamah, overwhelmed with happiness, sought the soldier who entered the hole. No one came forward. The announcements were repeated. Three days passed and no one took credit. On the fourth day, a soldier approached Maslamah; his face wrapped in a scarf. He said to him, “I have news of the soldier that entered the hole.” Maslamah sat up sharp, “Tell me who it is?” “He has three conditions before exposing himself. Do you agree to this?” said the soldier. “Of course,” Maslamah said. “The first is you do not compensate him for what he did. The second is you do not tell anyone who he is. And the third is you shall not ask for his presence ever again. Do you agree?” asked the soldier. “Agreed,” Maslamah replied. The soldier uncovered his scarf and said, “It is I. I went through that hole only for the sake of Allah.” He then turned and walked away. After that day, Maslamah was often heard praying, “O Allah, (on the Day of Judgment) grant me companionship with the soldier of the hole.” Ikhlas - a commandment of Allah Say (O Muhammad, peace be upon him): “Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exist). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.” (Qur'an, 6:162-163) In defining Ikhlas (sincerity), Al-Jurjani said it is not to seek any audience for your deeds other than Allah. Allah said: “Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.” (Qur'an, 67:2) Commenting on this verse, Al-Fudayl Ibn ‘Iyaadh said, “It is those deeds that are most correct and most sincere.” The students asked, “What are deeds that are correct and sincere?” He replied, “If a deed is done sincerely, yet is not done correctly, it will not be accepted. And if a deed is done correctly, but not sincerely for Allah, it will not be accepted. It must be done sincerely and correctly. Sincerely - for Allah alone. Correctly - in accordance with the Sunnah.” What contradicts Ikhlas Riyaa' – to perform an act of worship with the intention of showing it off to people, seeking their praise. Sum'ah – verbal statements that a person makes for the sake of people. An example of someone making ballooned talks just so others will think high of him. ‘Ujb - when a person becomes impressed with the ‘great' deeds he has done. All these are viruses that can kill our deeds and turn them against us on the Day of Resurrection. Ya'qoob Al-Makfoof Rahimahullah used to say, “The sincere one is he who hides his good deeds in the same way that he would hide his bad.” Insincerity is something very dangerous and can lead a person to ruin. Ibnul Qayyim Rahimahullah said, “Deeds without sincerity are like a traveler who carries dirt in his water-jug. The carrying of it burdens him and it brings no benefit.” May Allah make us all from those whose deeds are done in accordance with the Sunnah, deeds that are done sincerely for His sake alone. – Adapted from Khutbah.com __
