SINCERITY IS THE THIRD

 FAJR REMINDER: SINCERITY IS THE THIRD

By: Umm Affān

Muḥarram 3, 1448 (18-June-2026)

The next condition of Lā ilāha ill-Allāh is Ikhlāṣ (Sincerity). Sincerity is the foundation upon which the testimony of faith stands. It requires that every act of worship be performed solely for the Sake of Allāh, free from any trace of showing off, hypocrisy, or associating partners with Him. A believer must purify both his intentions and actions, directing them exclusively to Allāh. As Allāh (ﷻ) says: “So worship Allāh (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allāh's Sake only, (and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship). Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allāh only.” [Sūrah Az-Zumar (39): 2-3]

True sincerity demands complete reliance upon Allāh (Alone). Therefore, a Muslim should never resort to magical powders in pursuit of knowledge, sprinkle enchanted water in a shop to attract customers, or consume Shirk-laced concoctions in search of healing. Blessings, protection, and success come only from Allāh. Merely uttering Lā ilāha ill-Allāh while placing one's trust in such practices does not reflect genuine belief. Rather, it exposes a lack of sincerity in affirming that none deserves absolute dependence and worship except Allāh.

Every day, especially in our Ṣalāt, we recite the powerful words of Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah: “You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).” These words should prompt every believer to examine the sincerity of his faith. How can a person declare this before Allāh and yet direct acts of worship or seek assistance from rivers, mountains, talismans, or other created beings? Such contradictions undermine the very essence of Tawḥīd.

Likewise, Ṭawāf (circumambulation) is a sacred act of worship that is performed only around the Ka‘bah, the House of Allāh. It is therefore heartbreaking to witness some who claim Islām circumambulating the graves of deceased individuals believed to be among Allāh's Awliyā’. They touch and kiss the graves, wipe their faces with their dust, prostrate before them, stand in humility before them, and invoke them for their needs. Such practices have no place in the worship of Allāh. He (ﷻ) says: “And who is more astray than one who calls (invokes) besides Allāh such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls (invocations) to them?” [Sūrah Al-Aḥqāf (46): 5]

Dear brethren! We must always remember that Du’ā‘ (supplication or invocation) is itself an act of worship, and every act of worship belongs solely to Allāh. Whatever blessing you seek or whatever harm you wish to avert, turn only to Him. Do not place your confidence in amulets by carrying them in your pocket, placing them beneath your pillow, or hanging them in your home or vehicle. An amulet possesses no power, nor can it even protect itself. How then can it protect anyone else?

‘Abdullāh Ibn Mas’ūd reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Verily, Ar-Ruqā (magic spells), At-Tamā’im (amulets), and At-Tiwalah (charms) are acts of idolatry.” ‘Abdullāh’s wife, Zaynab, said, “Why do you say this? By Allāh, I would go to a Jewish man when my eye was discharging. He would invoke a spell over me, and then it would calm.” Abdullah said, “This is the work of Shayṭān who was picking at it with his hand, and when the man uttered the spell, he stopped. Verily, it is enough for you to say as the Prophet said: Adhhibil-bā's, Allāhumma Rabban-nās, ishfi antash-Shāfī, lā shifā'a ‘illā shifā'uk, shifā'an lā yughādiru saqamā (Take away the pain, O Lord of the people, and heal it for You are the Healer. There is no healing but Your healing, a healing that leaves no trace of illness).” [Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3883]

Dear brothers and sisters, let us strive to protect our Tawḥīd by being sincere in our worship and reliance upon Allāh. Do not be among the Mushrikīn or the Munāfiqīn. Rather, be a true Muslim whose profession of Lā ilāha ill-Allāh is reflected in sincere worship, unwavering trust, and complete devotion to Allāh (Alone).

I beseech Allāh (ﷻ) to save us from every form of Shirk, to purify our hearts with sincerity, and to keep us steadfast upon Tawḥīd until we meet Him. Aameen