ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Moral Stories The Value of Sincerity of Purpose A story is told of a man who approached three workers who were doing the same job. "What are you doing?" he asked each one of them separately and got different answers. "I am cutting the stones" replied the first. "I am earning my livehood" replied the second. "I am building a mosque" replied the third.

Each of the three workers saw himself linked to a different purpose each, one was to that extent, different from others, although all worked alike and were engaged in the same task. Our two hands with which we work are in no sense different from the hands of any other person. The value of what we do depends upon the quality of the inner purpose in our heart with which we do our work. A true Muslim works to earn God's pleasure.

In the words of Imam Khomeini (ra), the ultimate criterian in evaluating men's deeds is the intent and the purpose of the doer rather than the external shape of people's acts. Sincerity of purpose and God-fearing motivation behind a Muslim's deeds were the principle feature which distinguished his deeds from those of non-believers.

Islamic history provides glaring examples of how Muslims in minority ultimately triumphed over their enemies in much greater number and better equipped because of their faith and sincerity of their purpose..... Islam has emphasized the purity of intent before every act of virtue. Hence of the conditions provided for IBADAT (acts of worship) the most important and the primary one is IKHLAS (sincerity of purpose).

Not only one draws farther from Allah but he is discarded from divine blessings in acts where purity of intent is lacking. The following ayats in the Holy Quran provide a good guidance on the subject: "Say: I am commanded that I should serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience." (39:11) "And call on Him being sincere to Him in obedience". (7:29) What do we really mean by IKHLAS - the purity of purpose?

When one embarks upon worship of Allah or does any act of virtue, he is required to discard all wordly thoughts from his mind and cast his full concentration towards Allah. He is expected to feel dependent on none but Allah for all his wordly needs and put his trust in Him as the primary source of all blessings and reward. He is desired to throw his full weight in praying for all his lawful needs from Him.

His sole aim for every act of virtue should be to seek not worldly gains but the pleasure of Allah.