What is the best means to which your Eminence guides us for attaining sincerity and avoiding everything that diminishes the reward of deeds, and is there any guidance?
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The questioner : In the last of his questions, he says, “What is the best means to which your Eminence guides us for attaining sincerity and avoiding everything that diminishes the reward of deeds, and is there any guidance, O honorable Shaykh?”
The Shaykh : Yes. The means that saves one from this is seeking refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan and seeking His help in obeying Him, and that a person should not pay attention to these whispers that Shaytan casts into his heart, for Shaytan casts them to spoil his worship and his intention. So let him cast them behind his back and not turn to them. He may find it difficult to correct his intention, but if he persists and is patient, the outcome is for the righteous. Some of the Salaf said, “I have not struggled with my soul over anything as I have struggled with it over sincerity, but he succeeded.” So if a person persists in his work, seeks refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, seeks His help in obeying Allah, and is patient and perseveres, then Allah the Exalted will save him. Allah the Exalted said:[Ali 'Imran 3:200].
The questioner : May Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes. The means that saves one from this is seeking refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan and seeking His help in obeying Him, and that a person should not pay attention to these whispers that Shaytan casts into his heart, for Shaytan casts them to spoil his worship and his intention. So let him cast them behind his back and not turn to them. He may find it difficult to correct his intention, but if he persists and is patient, the outcome is for the righteous. Some of the Salaf said, “I have not struggled with my soul over anything as I have struggled with it over sincerity, but he succeeded.” So if a person persists in his work, seeks refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, seeks His help in obeying Allah, and is patient and perseveres, then Allah the Exalted will save him. Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنُوا اصبِروا وَصابِروا وَرابِطوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُم تُفلِحونَThe questioner : May Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims, O honorable Shaykh.