So if one sets out for jihad to make Allah pleased with him...

So if one sets out for jihad to make Allah pleased with him, one will have what is with Allah; and if one goes to the battle-fronts for material benefits or spoils, one will not have more than that.” He (S) also said: “Any one who learns a science to attract the attention of people to himself will not scent the odor of paradise.” He (S) also said: “Indeed, every truth has a reality; and a servant of Allah does not attain the reality of sincerity except when he does not like to be praised for anything he does for Allah.” Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) the Commander of the Faithful said: “Salvation can be obtained by sincerity alone.” Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) said: “If a servant of Allah performs a religious duly for His sake and for the world to come, but he mixes it up with someone else’s pleasure, he makes the latter a partner with Allah.” Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “Surely Allah will raise people on the Day of Judgement according to their state of mind.” Concerning “Whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds, and not join anyone in the service of his Lord,” [^1] he (a.s.) said: “When somebody does a righteous work not for the sake of Allah, but for self-praise, so that the people may hear of it, he has fallen into shirk (polytheism).” He (a.s.) also said: “Any one who learns the traditions of religion for the benefit of this world, will not have any share in the world to come.

But anyone who learns them for the reward in the world to come, Allah will give him in both the worlds.” He (a.s.) also said: “All kinds of showing off of one’s spiritual deeds are shirk (polytheism). Indeed, anyone who works for people, his reward is with people; and anyone who works for Allah his reward is with Allah.” He (a.s.) also said: “Allah says: ‘I am the Most Independent of partners; so I accept of the people’s actions those which are for Me alone’.

” He (a.s.) also said: “Your sincere action is that for which you want to be praised by no one except by Allah.” [^1]: The Qur’an, 9: 110. Previous…