All praises are due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, who accepts from His slaves deeds that are intended sincerely for His sake. I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, the uniquely One, who has no partners in His one-ness and I testify that our Leader and Master, our Prophet Mohammad ﷺ (peace be upon him), is the slave of Allah and His Messenger. O Allah, send your peace and blessings upon him and upon whomsoever follows him in guidance until the Last Day.
To continue: I advise you, O slaves of Allah and myself, with the Taqwa of Allah, for verily Allah says:
وَقَدِّمُوا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ مُلَاقُوهُ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And fear Allah and know that you will meet Him. And give good tidings to the believers.
O Believers: Allah says:
َمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion.
And the Prophet Mohammed ﷺ (peace be upon him) said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَقْبَلُ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ إِلَّا مَا كَانَ لَهُ خَالِصًا وَابْتُغِيَ بِهِ وَجْهُهُ
Allah does not accept any deed, except that which is purely for Him, and seeking His countenance.
So, deeds that are accepted by Allah, are those that are done purely for the sake of Allah, seeking His acceptance, and reward alone, wherein there is no desire from anyone besides Him. This pertains to all types of worship and dealings and all affairs. Verily Allah says:
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.
So, when a Muslim orientates himself to the Qibla to pray, he should intend with his prayer the countenance of his Lord. As Allah says:
وَلِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ
And to Allah belongs the east and the west. So, wherever you [might] turn, there is the countenance of Allah.
And when the Muslim pays his Zakat, then when he gives from his wealth he intends nothing except the countenance of his Lord. As Allah says:
وَمَا آتَيْتُمْ مِنْ زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ
But what you give in zakat, desiring the countenance of Allah – those are the multipliers.
In other words, they are the ones who have their reward multiplied, as Allah increases their reward commensurate to their sincerity. As the Prophet Mohammed ﷺ (peace be upon him) said:
نَّكَ لَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا أُجِرْتَ عَلَيْهَا
“You will be rewarded for whatever you spend for Allah’s sake”
In this manner is the affair of the believer, whatever good he does he does for the sake of Allah. He does so that they can be from about whom Allah says:
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا
We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.
In this manner was Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), he used to do much good for people, seeking the countenance of Allah. It was in regard to him that the verse was revealed which stated:
الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى* وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تُجْزَى* إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْأَعْلَى* وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَى
[He] who gives [from] his wealth to purify himself. And not [giving] for anyone who has [done him] a favor to be rewarded. But only seeking the countenance of his Lord, Most High. And he is going to be satisfied
The most deserving of people of goodness are the family of a person and his relatives, so Muslims should strive to preserve the bonds and maintain good relations with them, doing all manners of good to them, purely for Allah’s sake. As Allah says:
فَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَى حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ لِلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ
So, give the relative his right, as well as the needy and the traveler. That is best for those who desire the countenance of Allah, and it is they who will be the successful.
O Allah, make us from those who perform deeds purely and utterly for your noble countenance, so we can be of those who are successful. I say this, and I seek forgiveness for me and for you, so seek His forgiveness, for He is the All-Forgiving and the All-Merciful.
O Believers: Indeed, from the deeds that Allah has praised his slaves is patience and the ability to control anger for the sake of Allah. The Prophet Mohammed ﷺ (peace be upon him) said:
مَا مِنْ جُرْعَةٍ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ جُرْعَةِ غَيْظٍ كَظَمَهَا عَبْدٌ؛ ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ
There is nothing that is swallowed greater with Allah in reward than a slave of Allah who swallows and contains his rancour out of desire for the pleasure of Allah.
So, this is how the believing Muslim is, preserving his faith, holding forth to what a human being really entails. So, they live their lives in seeking the pleasure of Allah and full of contentment. They live in contentment in this life and in the hereafter in a life of perpetual bliss in Paradise.
And with this, we ask You O Allah that you send Your prayers and blessings upon all of the Prophets and Messengers, and especially on our master, our Prophet, Prophet Mohammed ﷺ (peace be upon him) and upon his family and all of his companions.
O Servants of Allah: Remember Allah and He will remember you. Thank Him for His blessings and He will increase you therein.