Sincerity
The hidden scale that weighs every deed.
About 30 minutes of listening
Book 37: The Book of Intention, Sincerity, and Truthfulness
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din
The thirty-seventh book of the Ihya examines the inner conditions that validate all outward deeds — the purity of intention (niyyah), sincerity (ikhlas), and truthfulness (sidq) that distinguish worship from mere habit.
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From The Book of Intention, Sincerity, and Truthfulness.
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"Al-Sousi said: "Sincerity is the absence of seeing sincerity, for anyone who witnesses sincerity in their sincerity needs their sincerity to be sincere. This points to purifying the act from self-admiration, as attention to sincerity itself is vanity and a flaw. The pure is what is free from all flaws. Al-Sahl, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "Sincerity means that the servant's rest and movement are exclusively for Allah."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 37: The Book of Intention, Sincerity, and Truthfulness
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"Therefore, one must be vigilant and observant of these subtleties, or risk joining the ranks of the devil's followers without realizing it. Explanations of the Statements of the Elders on Sincerity Al-Sousi said: "Sincerity is the absence of seeing sincerity, for anyone who witnesses sincerity in their sincerity needs their sincerity to be sincere."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 37: The Book of Intention, Sincerity, and Truthfulness
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"This means not to worship your whims and desires, but to worship only your Lord and be upright in His worship as commanded. This points to excluding everything other than God from consideration, which is true sincerity. Explanation of the Degrees of Impurities and Blemishes that Disturb Sincerity Know that the impurities that disrupt sincerity can be obvious or hidden, weak despite being apparent, or strong despite being hidden."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 37: The Book of Intention, Sincerity, and Truthfulness