Page 83 - Sincerity Described in the Qur'an

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Avoiding Attitudes Harming Sincerity

yield to his lower-self and ardently avoids all its commands.
In the following chapters, we will edify the true believer by
discussing these attitudes that destroy sincerity and the ways
to be purified from them.

Cleansing of the Evil of the Lower-self

As the test of this life entails—unless otherwise willed by
Allah—the lower-self was created to continuously invite men
to commit evil deeds. One of these evil deeds is to act
insincerely. In order to destroy sincerity, the lower-self directs
itself in a way as to encourage all kinds of evil thoughts. As
indicated in the verse quoted below, the wicked side of the
soul is comprised of "incessant sin and evil."
And the self and what proportioned it and inspired it
with depravity or with its sense of duty. (Surat ash-
Shams: 7-8)

However, Allah also inspires man ways to avoid this
incessant evil and to cleanse and purify his soul.
The subsequent verse maintains that those who corrupt
their souls will fail and those who purify them will be among
those who succeed as follows:
He who purifies it has succeeded, he who covers it up
has failed. (Surat ash-Shams: 9-10)

Certainly, the one who aims to acquire sincerity and to be
among the pious servants of Allah should make such a
choice. Allah calls attention to the genuine efforts made by
the true believers in the following verse:
And among the people there are some who give up
everything, desiring the good pleasure of Allah. Allah