Ikhlas

What is Ikhlas?

Ikhlas is the purity of intention: performing worship purely for the sake of Allah, seeking His pleasure alone, without any partner in the intention — no showing off, no wish to be seen, no seeking of worldly reward. It is one of the two conditions on which Allah accepts any deed, together with following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Its Foundation in the Sunnah

Ikhlas is the meaning of the most famous of all hadiths, the very first in Sahih al-Bukhari: "Actions are but by intentions, and every person will have only what he intended. Whoever's emigration was for Allah and His Messenger, then his emigration was for Allah and His Messenger. And whoever's emigration was for the world he wished to gain, or a woman he wished to marry, then his emigration was for that for which he emigrated" (Bukhari 1, Muslim 1907). The whole life of a Muslim is measured against this hadith.

Its Command in the Quran

Allah says: "And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth..." (Quran 98:5). And: "So worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion. Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion" (Quran 39:2-3).

The Two Conditions of Acceptance

Classical scholars, following the imams of the salaf, state that a deed is accepted by Allah only when two conditions meet:

• Ikhlas — the intention is purely for Allah alone.
• Ittiba — the outward form of the deed follows the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.

A deed pure in intention but wrong in form is not accepted; a deed correct in form but done for other than Allah is likewise not accepted. Ikhlas and following the Sunnah are two wings; the servant flies to Allah with both.

Its Opposite: Riya

The opposite of ikhlas is riya — doing a deed to be seen by people. The Prophet ﷺ described it as "the lesser shirk" (Ahmad 23636) because it divides an act of worship between Allah and another. It is one of the most subtle diseases of the heart; guarding against it is a lifelong labour.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I know if I have ikhlas?

Test the intention: would you still do this act if no one saw it? Would you do it if you would be blamed for it? The imam Sahl al-Tustari said: "Ikhlas is that the servant's motion, at rest and in action, is for Allah alone." Renewing the intention before, during and after a deed slowly refines the heart.

What if a good feeling of being appreciated comes after the deed?

A natural feeling that arises after doing a deed for Allah does not invalidate the intention — this was called by early scholars bushrā al-mu'min al-ājilah, "the immediate glad tidings of the believer". What harms ikhlas is doing the deed for the sake of that feeling from the outset.