Sheikh Uthman Hadi - Finding Sincerity in our Ibadah | A Journey to the Divine - Ep. 7

Episode Date: February 25, 2026

Today, I would like to discuss a vital aspect of our worship (Ibadah) – sincerity (Ikhlas). Sincerity is the foundation upon which our acts of worship stand, and it is essential for our acceptance before Allah.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sheikh-uthman-hadi--6689369/support.https://sheikhuthmanhadi.beam.lyhttps://open.spotify.com/user/315hadqmwxllibu6ubi5us2cbn2y?si=572b4d8898284e9ehttps://open.spotify.com/show/3MQHfrpjj3XXcqoPbN5Dl8?si=v6YQ42kpSx-VONBFhT3CzA

Bismillah, Rihmane, al-hameh, al-hameh, Rubil Alamian, and Salatu, and al-Rasulah, and al-Aishe, and Aishabi, Ais, Aishae, and Aishe, and my brothers and sisters,

I pray that everyone is doing well and I ask Allah, to forgive us all of our sins and our shortcomings, and it grant us a special mercy, not only in this life, but mainly in the next. My dear brothers and sisters,

Jazakam Allah, Chairin, once again, like I say every episode, for joining us again tonight, and taking the time to actually learn and listen because just like in the authentic hadith in which the prophet of Allah Allah al-a-u-Salam was near ready to have said that if a person walks the path to seek knowledge, Allah suhpana-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a will make ease the path for him to

Jinnah, an early hadith just to get you started for tonight by the brothers and sisters. But I do thank you all for coming here tonight because just as we are entering into the eighth night, which we have after, you know, we pray Salas in Maghrib. We have now entered into the eighth night and the seventh day for some. say. For others, it's the eighth day and the ninth night or sorry, the ninth. I think I said that wrong. Nonetheless, sorry, I don't mean to get the days confused because now I'm confusing myself. Staf allah, this is my name. My brothers and sisters, it's very important that throughout the month of Ramadan, we are trying to have sincerity in our abada and we are trying to find

sincerity in our abada. And it's very important because it is a very vital aspect and a fundamental aspect of our faith. And that is our ibada and our al-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a, which particularly I've spoken about a lot lately, but iqlas is the foundation upon which our acts of ibada stand. And it is essential for our acceptance by

Allah-Supana-ho-Tal. You know, so being able to understand that sincerity in your ibada, performing acts of worship should only be for Allah-Safana-Hu-Tal's sake solely for him, right? And it should be without any other motives or desires to please others or recognition from others. This is why Allah, Sufana-ho-Talah emphasized the importance of sincerity and being sincere in the

Quran when he says, and they were not commanded except to worship Allah-Safana-Hu-Talah being sincere to him, right, in their religion. So this verse is clearly giving us here and highlighting for us that it is essential for our worship, for our abada, and we should, you know, soul direct our Ibadah toward Allah sufana and dedicated towards him sometimes we get the the feeling that we want to show off for others and this is why Allah saffana how it says in this ayah only do it for my sake right the last part says being sincere to him he doesn't say being sincere and then that's it being sincere to him he's saying being sincere to me because you can be

sincere and so many things including you know showing off right or trying to do it for others you can be sincere But here in this ayah, Allah supranahua-ta-a-a-a-a-sa-a-sa-a-sa-me, which is why my dear brothers and sisters, it brings me to a hadith in which the Prophetus of Allah-A-u-Slam says actions are judged by intentions and every person will have that of what he has intended. So in this hadith, it reminds us that the intention behind our acts of iBada are crucial and if our intentions are pure, Allah-Supana-hu-Tal will accept our acts of iBada from us. So trying to ensure that it is month of Ramadan, we are trying to set and create a

habit because like I give this example to people I don't want to get too far off but you know if you want to gain true you know you want to gain the true benefits of this month then you have to quit the bad habits right but there are steps to it it's not just quitting the bad habits but actually it starts with finding the path to that bad habit because if you're having a problem with things that you're looking at things that you're listening to things that you're doing then it has to be a lead up to that right you don't just wake up I'm doing it right or, you know, I'm doing this in again. It's something that led up to that. Whether that be, maybe you clicked on a video and that provoked it.

Maybe you listen to something that provoked it. Maybe, you know, maybe if you have a problem, some people have problems with listening to music and things like that. Maybe you were out in public and you heard music. And, of course, you know, places, like here in the West, it's very difficult to get away from that because that's a staple part. You know, you go to the stores. You go, you know, to every place except for the mashton. You know, so trying to be better, my brothers and sisters. We ask Allah, Sufana-ahua-a-a-a-a-a-a to make it easy upon us all.

But to go back to the point I was trying to make here was that it's important that we want our actions to have acts of Ibadah to be accepted by Allah supranahua-a-a-a-a-to-a-a-and-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a. Which is why you want to ensure that in this beautiful and blessed mat of Ramadan, you are trying to build the habit of only worshiping for Allah, of setting clear intentions that this is only for Allah. I'm not doing it for you, for you, for you, we're not doing it. it for anyone right I'm only doing it for Allah which is why when it comes to teaching which is why when it comes to speaking it is also very difficult because the Shetan can put just a drop of arrogance in your heart and like the hadith says that you will not enter a no person will enter paradise with the drop or a mustard seed of arrogance in their hearts right and we know how small it is and

the Shetan can put something just as small as that in your heart about this so this is exactly why it's very important to ensure that you are trying your absolute hardest to set pure intentions for the sake of Allah Sufana-ahua-ta-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-w will accept your deeds from you, accept your acts of imbada from you. Which is why another thing I want to mention my brothers and sisters

is trying to ensure that we have protection from hypocrisy because sincerity acts as a shield against the fact, right? Which is hypocrisy. So when we perform our acts of ibada for the sake of Allah supana-ho-ta-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-o, we safeguard ourselves from seeking praise or recognition from others, which is why the Prophet

Allah-a-a-a-a-a-salam warned us against, you know, showing off in our abada, stating, beware of showing off, right? Beware of showing off. And what he's saying here is that if you truly want to gain closeness to Allah subana-ho-ta-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-

it actually starts from being in private. And this is something else I want to mention as well. There's an hadith, and I'm going to probably mention it again, but there's a haditheath, and which the prophet so Allah, a la'u'a'u-salam spoke about your ibada in private and said that the best ibada is the abada that's in private. Why?

Because there's no one else there. And it's just you and Allah. So if you whether or not you're out in public, whether or not there are people around you, only focus on Allah because those people aren't going to judge you due to your prayer, due to your du'a. If you're saying, oh, I'm making du'a, look so-and-so is here. Then we're going to make du'a. The imam's here.

It doesn't matter, right? Because they're going to look at you. Oh, they're making du'a. And then they're going to go on about their day. And to 10 seconds. after they see you, they're not going to remember you did that thing. So ensure that you are trying to only seek the pleasure of Allah, Safana, His Allah. And when it comes to your iqlaz, when it comes to your sincerity, it also leads to a deeper

connection with Allah Safana'hu, Tala. When we worship with a more sincere heart or with a sincere heart, we experience a sense of tranquility and fulfillment. Our prayers become more meaningful, and we find ourselves more focused and engaged in our acts of iBada, which is why one of the things that we've talked about so far, my dear brothers and sisters is self-reflection. And that's very important. Assessing your intentions before engaging in any act of

of iBada because me teaching for the sake of Allah, Sufana'u, a ta'a'a'a is an act of ibada, right? I'm gay, I may gain rewards from it. But also remember that you might also gain a loss of rewards for it as well because you are doing it for others. You're doing it so that people can call you a knowledgeable scholar. So people can praise you, so people can love you

and, you know, people can hear you speak. so ensure that you're doing it for the validation of Allah, not for the validation of the people. And the question that we have to ask ourselves are, why am I doing this, right? Is it for Allah suhpaniahu is Allah or is it for the approval of others? And this self-reflection helps us realign our intentions and ensures that we are trying to come back to Allah, right?

So that's one of the main centers of this Ramadan. It's trying to come back to Allah subhanahu, Tala. And among one of the other things like I mentioned before was seeking il. Right. So understanding the significance of Eklash or sincerity in this religion in Islam can strengthen your faith, right? Can strengthen your amen to resolve, to maintain it. Because when you engage in learning about the laws of the prophets and the

companions, peace be upon them all, who exemplify sincerity in their worship, it becomes easier for you to do the same thing. Which is why another thing I want to mention here when it comes to it, what is one of the things in which the Prophet of Allahiahe, taught us and that was duaas. You asked to say to ensure that you are not associating anything with Allah subhanna-hu-ta-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a and this moves over to supplication.

As when you turn to Allah-Supana-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-sssssuching with you while I know and I seek your forgiveness for what I do not know. So ensuring my dear brothers and sisters that you are trying to consistently make this dua and every point I'm mentioning here I want to tie it in to the next point which is why the next point I want to mention like I just spoke about consistency a little bit is consistency in your Ibadah which is why trying to strive to maintain a consistent practice of Ibadah even if it's just small right the Prophet of Allah a He was Salaam said the best and most beloved of these

to allah sufana ho a data are those that are done what consistently even if they're small they're done consistently even if they're fewer they're small and it's not a lot so this consistently this consistency helps reinforce sincerity over time right and it's not just going to be something where you know you listen to this talk today and then you wake up or maybe you go and afterwards you click all the video and you now have sincerity in your ibadah it takes time and it takes practice because it takes work. So this is exactly why my dear brothers and sisters is trying to ensure that you are bettering yourself

and you're trying to be around company as well that's going to help you. And ensure that you're also a void, you are trying to avoid showing off, right? So be mindful of your actions in public and in private and strive to perform acts of iBada in a way that pleases Allah, Sufana, Hei-Talha. Regardless of who is watching.

Because Allah, Sufana-ho-ta-ta-ta-a-ta-ta-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a is the ever-watchful, right? Allah's-a-a-a-a-a-a-a's always watching. So even if you think, oh, I'm going to do this in public while everybody else is watching me, but when I'm in private, I'm going to do all these bad things. Allah, Sufana Hu-Tal, is watching you regardless of whether or not you're in public and in private.

Which is why, you know, you wouldn't want to do the same things that you do in private, in public, would you? If you do something that's haram or something that disobeys Allah, you wouldn't want to do it in public, would you? So this is exactly why we have to think, wait, no matter whether or not we're in public or private, there's still one watching us all the time, and that is Allah, Sufana-ho-ta-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a. so ensuring that you're trying to do to the best of your ability you're trying to ensure that you're staying away from that which is bad right and this is exactly why the provostal Allah alexi waslam emphasized that the best of deeds are those that are done in private away from the eyes of others so even though yes we are with you know other people maybe we're praying in congregation that is good but also the best of deeds are those that are done while others aren't there because when there are people are are there and becomes more difficult for us to worship Allah,

to remember Allah, to obey Allah. You know, so, I mean to say the other way, when people aren't there, sometimes it can be more difficult for us, right? But the Prophet of Allah Allah al-a-u-sandam here is emphasizing that it actually becomes easier for us, and it should be easier for us. Because this is like I've mentioned before, and I know we're running out of time,

but it's like I mentioned before when it came to the Hajid. The best prayer are the prayers that are prayed in private. Because it's just you and Allah, and there's no one else watching. you. So you don't have to worry about showing off because sometimes, you know, if you're just praying by yourself, you may be praying sluggish and someone comes in and you, Allah, but before that, you weren't doing that, right? Allah, before that, you were just, Allah, no, no, no, but you weren't doing anything.

So this is exactly why the best of prayers, my dear brothers and sisters, are those that are done in private. My dear brothers and sisters, sincerity in the heart of our Ibad is very important. It is essential for the acceptance of our Ibadah, our worship, and for our spiritual growth. As we strive to find sincerity, my brothers and sisters in our iBada, we must remember the words of Allah, Sufana, Heu. Tala, mentioned in the Quran. Allah, Sufana, Hei Tala says, and your Lord said, invoke me, I will respond to you. My brothers and sisters, we ask Allah, Sufana, Hu, Tala, to grant us the ability to worship him sincerely and accept our deeds from us.

We ask Allah, Sufana, Hu, Tala, to make our heart sincere in our ibada and guide us to the straight path. I mean, Jazakam Allah, Khairun, for tuning in again, my brothers and sisters and listening. We ask Allah, Sufana-hoita-a-a-a-la to reward us all and to forgive us for our sins or our shortcomings, they grant us his special mercy not only in this life, mainly in the next, and to accept our fast from us all today. And so, and I'mhul d'a'u'a'u'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'i