IKHLAS – إِخِلاص

 

Literally: From the word of خُلوص (khulûs – purity, trueness). Purifying the heart. A being or becoming sincere, free from guile or afterthought in duty, love, or friendship. Pure sincerity of heart. Sincere, heartfelt and earnest love. Loyalty and straightness with earnest love.

As an Islamic term: To perform ‘ibâdah only because it is ordered and commanded by Allah. Not aiming for any reward or benefit as the result of ‘ibâdah except the acceptance and pleasure of Allah. The opposite of riyâ is ikhlas.

 

In your action (‘amal), there must be the acceptance and pleasure of Allah. If He is pleased, it has no importance if the whole world turns its back on you. If He accepts it, it has no effect if the entire creation rejects it. After He accepted and is pleased, if He wishes and His hikmah requires, He makes the entire creation, too, accept it and pleases them with it, although you do not demand. Therefore, in this service, it is necessary to directly make the acceptance and pleasure of Janâb-i Haqq the only main aim.

The Twenty-First Flash

 

‘Ubûdiyyah looks to the command of Allah and the acceptance and pleasure of Allah. The cause of ‘ubûdiyyah is the command of Allah and its result is the acceptance and pleasure of Haqq. Its fruits and benefits belong to the âkhirah.

The Seventeenth Flash - Thirteenth Note/The Second Matter

 

As for the ikhlas in ‘ibâdah:

It is performing it only because it is commanded. Although each command comprises numerous hikmahs and each of these hikmahs can be a reason for obeying that command, ikhlas necessitates that the real and effective cause (‘illah) be the command to perform it. The ‘ibâdah is null and void if the hikmah becomes the reason to perform it, but it is permissible (jâiz) if those hikmahs and benefits remain as the reason for being preferred.

Signs of Miraculousness-294

(Please also refer to Twentieth Flash, Twenty-First Flash and The Compilation on The Principle of Ikhlas)