Page 48 - Sincerity Described in the Qur'an

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SINCERITY DESCRIBED IN THE QUR’AN

foreground, which directly call upon the attention and praise
of others. If the first person refuses to embark of the said task,
just because he will have to remain in the background and
will not achieve praise, and wishes to replace his job with

another offering greater opportunity to acquire recognition
and respect, then he will be impinging upon his sincerity.
Under such circumstance, the said person will most likely
have been carried away by insincere thoughts, such as "Even
though I will expend enormous effort, my name will not be
mentioned in the end. What’s more, the others will gain more
merit in spite of working less than me." Nevertheless, the
most noble approach to follow, under such a situation, would
be to work only to acquire Allah’s recognition and praise, to
seek to gain His consent. If the job is likely to bring a benefit,
it is of no importance who participates in it. Even if one is
unlikely to acquire recognition from others and remain
unknown, he should still undertake such opportunity with
the enthusiasm of gaining Allah’s consent. This is what
sincere behavior would imply.
One who always acts sincerely will not only be successful
and enjoy peace of mind in this world, but may also be
hopeful of a great recompense in the hereafter. Because, such
a person does not depend on his worldly possessions,

authority, belongings or wealth, and his esteem in society, but
primarily depends on Allah, then his faith, intelligence,
conscience and sincerity. As portrayed in the following verse,
Allah always helps those who turn to Him with untainted
devotion:
... Allah will certainly help those who help Him—Allah
is All-Strong, Almighty (Surat al-Hajj: 40)