Page 64 - Sincerity Described in the Qur'an

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SINCERITY DESCRIBED IN THE QUR’AN

thus manifesting the meaning of the verse: ‘Verily my reward is
from Allah alone’ (Surah Hud: 29) by renouncing the material and
moral reward to be had from men and thus manifesting the meaning
of the verse: ‘Naught is incumbent on the Messenger but

conveying the message’ (Surat al-Ma’ida: 99); and by knowing
that such matters as goodly acceptance, and making a favorable
impression, and gaining the attention of men are Allah’s concern and
a favor from Him, and that they play no part in conveying the
message, which is one’s own duty, nor are they necessary for it, nor
is one charged with gaining them—by knowing this a person will be
successful in gaining sincerity, otherwise it will vanish."12

Freeing Oneself from the Need of the Opinions
of Others and Seeking only Allah’s Consent

In one of his works treating the conditions to be fulfilled
to acquire sincerity, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi highlighted the
importance of cleansing one’s self from the need of
acceptance from others and turning only to obtain Allah’s
consent, by saying, "You should seek Divine pleasure in your

actions. If Almighty Allah is pleased, it is of no importance even
should the whole world be displeased. If He accepts an action and
everyone else rejects it, it has no effect. Once His pleasure has been
gained and He has accepted an action, even if you do not ask it of
Him, should He wish it and His wisdom requires it, He will make
others accept it. He will make them consent to it too. For this
reason, the sole aim in this service should be the direct seeking of
Divine pleasure." 13 This example is of great consequence in
understanding the meaning of sincerity. It stresses that once
Allah assents, nothing matters, even if the whole world were