Exploring Sincerity – Abdur Rahman’s Corner
Peace, one and all…
A few days ago I shared a recent sohbet on Happiness, Suffering and the Heart. I wanted to share a few extra readings that explore these ideas more deeply. They are all taken from al-Qushayri’s Risala.
May the hearts of the lovers be opened.
Abu Ali al-Daqqaq said:
‘Sincerity means making – praise be to Him – the sole object of one’s worship’
Al-Qushayri comments thus:
‘By worship he meant seeking closeness to God – praise be to Him – to the exclusions of everything else, such as making a show [of one’s piety] for other people, seeking their praise and taking delight in it, or any other thing [that distracts one] from getting closer to God Most High’.
Qushayri, Risala p. 220.
Abu Ali al-Daqqaq is also reported to have said:
‘Sincerity is to protect one’s actions from being observed by people. As for truthfulness (sidq) it is cleansing oneself or being aware of one’s seThe sincere one is free of self-conceited, whilst the truthful one is free from self-glorification’.
