What is the reward of sincerity of intention (ikhlasun niyyah)?
ANSWER
1) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
‘Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and actions.’
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2564)
2) Sayyiduna Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrated that a man came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and asked:
What is the reward for a person who fought in the path of Allah, seeking reward and fame? Nabi (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallan) said: “There is no reward for him.” The man repeated the question three times to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied: “There is no reward for him.”, and then said: “Allah Ta’ala accepts those deeds which were performed purely for His Sake and which were meant to seek His Pleasure.
(Sunan Nasai -Al Mujtaba-, Hadith: 3140)
Hafiz ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has graded the hadith as good (jayyid). (Fathul Bari, under Hadith: 2810)
A similar narration has also been recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud, (Hadith: 2516) on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
3) Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam) said:
‘The world and all it contains is cursed, except for those action that are done sincerely for the pleasure of Allah.’
(Tabarani, See Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10 pg. 222)
‘Hafiz Mundhiri (rahimahullah) states that the above Hadith has been recorded with a sound chain (بأسناد لا بأس به)
(Targhib, vol. 1 pg. 55)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala