Doing things with ikhlaas (sincerity)

Q:

1. Does pleasure of our Prophet (SallAllahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam), the pleasure of The Prophets ('Alayhim-us-Salaam), the pleasure of the Angels ('Alayhim-us-Salaam), and the pleasure of The Sahabaah (RaziyAllahu 'Anhum) count as part of Ikhlaas?

2. If someone does dhikr in a majlis together with other people so that Allah (SubhanaHu Wa Ta'alaa) can mention them in His majlis of Angels ('Alayhim-is-Salaam), does this ruin their Ikhlaas?

3. If a person starts Namaz with a weak but conscious intention that it is for Allah (SubhanaHu Wa Ta'alaa) but their heart feels weak towards praise and is affected by criticism if someone criticises their Namaz, does this mean he had not complete Ikhlaas? How can the heart be unaffected by praise and criticism?

A:

1. Pleasing Hadhrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) for the sake of Allah Ta`ala is also ikhlaas. And doing things to keep the malaaikah happy is also not against ikhlaas.

2. No.

3. Don't pay attention to all this. Just engage in the work and ignore these negative thoughts.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)