Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh)
Ikhlaas
(sincerity) generally starts off with a lot of difficulty. However, just as
there is a need for some type of utensil to receive water, so too is there a
need for the structure of Ibaadah (worship), be it Salaah, Fasting,
Zakaat, Hajj or any other Ibaadat, to receive the desired Ikhlaas.
If the utensil is discarded,
then what would be used to receive the water? In a similar vein, if the ‘Amal’
(action) is discarded, in what are you going to receive Ikhlaas?
Even though there will be shortcomings in our Ibaadah and Ikhlaas, we
must continue doing the ‘Amal’ and continue with the effort to do so solely for
the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, and we should engage in plenty of Taubah[1]
and Istighfaar[2]
for our deficiencies in Ikhlaas.
Moreover, it is in the company of the Auliya Allah (Friends of Allah)
that a person learns and acquires Ikhlaas. Their hearts are reservoirs of
Ikhlaas.
[1] Taubah: Repentance
[2] Istighfaar : Seeking
forgiveness
