IKHLAAS

Ikhlaas is the willpower to do a task solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. When a person has Ikhlaas, he only has one goal for whatever task that he does: he just wants the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. He does not want anything else besides this. This is something very important because without it, no action is valid. And when this is present, then a small action also has great value in the eyes of Allah Ta’ala. Moving a small rock to please Allah Ta’ala is far more valuable than breaking a mountain without Ikhlaas. That is why, at times, spending gold, the equivalent of the size of mountain Uhud also cannot match a small amount of dates that is given in charity to please Allah Ta’ala. Just like doing something solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala is called Ikhlaas, similarly, to do a good deed with the hope of getting Jannah is also called Ikhlaas. Likewise, refraining from things that Allah Ta’ala has prohibited due to fear of Jahannam is also called Ikhlaas.

Allah Ta’ala said: 

"... Fear the fire that has been prepared for the Kaafiroon." (S 3: V 131) 

[English version of "Ikhlaas" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.3]