The title of this article is tricky for those who know well that HONESTY, not sincerity, is the best policy according to what the great quote suggests. But let me catch your attention on this one and read on how important sincerity is as one of the virtues of a Muslim has to have most of all.
I’ve decided to write about sincerity in this column since I’ve just been to a relief operations organized by volunteer organizations who went to the evacuees themselves dedicating their precious time, effort and money to alleviate the pain of the already suffering Maranao people who are unfortunately in an involuntary diaspora to different cities and municipalities in Mindanao escaping the conflict. This is timely to each and every one to be sincere and not make popularity, reputation or material gains the motive for such noble actions.
Prophet Muhammad said,
“All actions are judged according to intentions and indeed each person will get according to what he intended.” Narrated by Imam Al Bukhari.
This saying of the Prophet Muhammad is always being taught and preached as the most important saying of all because of its utter importance. In fact, of all the religions there is, Islam is the only religion that puts much stress on the importance of sincerity. Most religions will teach moderation, piety, and reverence, but only Islam has put much attention to sincerity that it is a basic doctrine and much literature has been written on the subject. Furthermore, showing off, which is the opposite of sincerity as much as doing good deeds for ulterior motives is shunned in Islam as much as our Filipino culture shun what we call the, Banal na Aso Santong Kabayo (Holy dog, saintly horse) which is a popular idiom we use for contempt against people who do not practice what they preach which are driven by their lack of sincerity to the religion or cause they adhere to.
That is why we laugh at stories of those politicians who swear much to bring benefit to the people of put his name in every public project he initiated using public funds as if it was his money. Add to that how we laugh at the stories of religious leaders, the Padre Damasos or Pastor Hokage as we call them, who may show the face of an angel during the mass but who was actually the devil themselves in private.
SINCERITY IS A CONDITION FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF GOOD DEEDS
Each religion is known to promote good and prohibit evil. In whatever religion you are, there is a universal sense of morality that we should be honest or not to kill or rape but little is being said about being sincere. In Islam, sincerity is so important that if you did something for showing off, that deed is automatically invalidated. In Islam, all good deeds must be done for the pleasure of Allah and not for any material benefit. Sincerity and the other condition on the acceptance of good deeds which is doing the righteous deed according to the proper Islamic methodology are two conditions on the acceptance of good deeds.
Because of these, Muslims are taught not to brag about their accomplishments or religious service. There is a certain degree of stoicism or asceticism that should accompany one’s conduct before, during and after doing one’s deed.
SHOWING OFF WILL INVALIDATE A RIGHTEOUS ACTION
Sincerity will definitely make your good deed rewarded and the opposite of it will invalidate it automatically. Such happens when you pray for the purpose of being seen by your boss or you make your prayer look better so that others will say that you are a pious person. Showing off is a thing that lingers in the mind and spirit and should be fought while the Muslim is engaged in good deeds because Satan is always tempting humans to show off in order to have their deeds invalidated.
If the Muslim successfully wards off any whispers from Satan to commit showing of, he may still have his reward intact but if let it settle, he has all his actions invalidated due to this. Prophet Muhammad said about three people who are known to have performed the best deeds in this life and yet they will be the first to be thrown into the Hellfire. One of them is Quran reciter, the second is a Muslim soldier and the third is someone who gives alms and donations. All of them will be the first amongst people to be thrown into the hellfire because the Quran reciter used to read so that the people will say that he is a good reciter, the soldier fought so that people will say that he is brave while the person who gives alms did it so that the people will say that he is generous.
SEVERE PUNISHMENT FOR PREACHING WHAT YOU DO NOT DO
Preaching that which you do not do is one of the fruits of lack of sincerity. Allah said in the Quran about the Jews who used to do acts of worship for show off and do not practice that they preach,
“Do you order piety upon the people while you forget yourselves. Do you not think?” Quran 2:44.
In the hereafter, the person who does not practice what he preaches will be on hellfire walking around in circles like a donkey dragging his intestine which is hanging from his stomach. The people will ask him about why he is like that when he used to preach goodness to people and he would only say that I did not do what I used to teach you.
Sincerity is the best policy because everything else comes after it. You will become truly pious when you are sincere and only work for the pleasure of Allah. Honesty also comes after when you know that Allah sees whatever you do even if people do not see you.
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