Introduction
The people doing Tableegh should be very sincere as far as their talks, writings and actions are concerned. Even a small good deed with sincerity will be greatly rewarded by Allah Ta’ala. Without sincerity, they will have no reward in this world or in the Hereafter.
Translation: Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ says about sincerity: “Allah does not look at your faces or towards your riches; but He sees (the sincerity of) your hearts and your deeds.”
On another occasion, Rasulullah ﷺ was asked as to what is the meaning of ‘Imaan’. He answered, “It means Ikhlaas (sincerity).” Hadhrat Mu’aaz رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was made the governor of Yemen. When he was about to leave for Yemen, he asked for advice from Rasulullah ﷺ who said: “Be sincere in all your beliefs and actions, for it will increase the reward of your good deeds.” Another Hadith says: “Allah Ta’ala accepts only those deeds of His servants, which are done with complete sincerity for Him.” Another Hadith says:
Translation: “Allah Ta’ala has said: ‘I am the most independent of all partners. Whoever brings a partner to Me in any action (i.e. whoever does some action to show off to someone), I give him over to that partner, (and will not help him at all). Then I have no value for his actions, which are all given to the partner.’”
It has been stated in another Hadith that it will be announced on the Day of Qiyaamah: “Whoever has made a partner to Allah Ta’ala in any action, he should ask for his reward from that partner because Allah Ta’ala does not need any partner.”
Another Hadith says:
Translation: “Whoever does ibaadat for show, he becomes guilty of false worship and whoever fasts for show, he also becomes guilty of false worship and whoever gives charity for show, he also becomes guilty of false worship.”
To be guilty of false worship means that he does not perform good deeds sincerely for the sake of Allah Ta’ala only. By making a show of it, he wants to look good in front of people, which indirectly makes them look like partners to Allah Ta’ala.
Another Hadith says:
Translation: “Some people will be called before everybody for questioning on the Day of Qiyaamah. A shaheed will be asked by Allah Ta’ala, ‘Did I not give you such and such favour?’ He will admit those favours. Allah Ta’ala will then ask him: ‘How did you make use of My favours?’ He will answer: ‘I went in Jihaad to please You, and was killed for Your sake.’ Allah Ta’ala will say: ‘You lie! You went in Jihaad to be called a hero by people, and this has been done.’ He will be thrown head first into the fire of Jahannam. Next, an Aalim will be called and the same questions will be put to him. In reply he will admit the favours of Allah Ta’ala. He will be asked: ‘How did you make use of My favours?’ He will answer, ‘I learnt the knowledge of Islam and taught it to others only to please You.’ Allah Ta’ala will say: ‘You lie! You learnt knowledge in order to be called an Aalim and you read the Qur-aan to be called a Qaari.’He too will be thrown head first into the fire of Jahannam. Thereafter a rich man will be called, and the same questions will be put to him. He will say: ‘I always spent money to please You.’ Allah Ta’ala will say: ‘You lie! You spent money in order to be called a generous man, and this has been said.’ He also will be thrown headfirst into the fire of Jahannam.”
Therefore, we should avoid showing off. We should invite people to Islam and serve Deen only to please Allah Ta’ala. We should follow the Sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ and should neither desire to become famous nor to receive favours from people. If our intention is incorrect, we should ask Allah Ta’ala to protect us and should ask His forgiveness. May Allah Ta’ala, through His kindness and through the sadaqah of His beloved (Rasul ﷺ ) and through the barkat of his pure work, grant us sinners the taufeeq of ikhlaas (sincerity) and may Allah also bless the readers as well. Aameen.