All praise is due to Allah, the One and Only, the Eternal Refuge, and there is none like unto Him. I praise Him with such praise that is befitting to Him and pleasing to Him. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, alone and without a partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His servant and messenger—he who called people towards belief in the Oneness of Allah and the path of Islam. May peace and blessings be upon Allah’s servant and messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him), and upon his family and companions.
“Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.” – Quran 6:162
Respected brothers and friends, this verse carries profound meaning: “My prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are all for Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. He has no partner, and I have been commanded for this, and I am the first to submit to Him.”
This verse establishes a fundamental truth: a person’s speech, actions, and entire existence should be devoted solely to Allah. All worship and acts of obedience must be exclusively for Him, with no element of partnership. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) beautifully explained this concept:
“Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, gives for the sake of Allah, and withholds for the sake of Allah, has indeed completed his faith.”
The Quran declares and this hadith confirms that our actions become meaningless if they are not performed solely for Allah’s sake. We must live and die only for Him. True worship must be exclusively for Allah—when any act is done for someone other than Allah, it becomes void.
Defining True Faith
True faith demands that a person’s love and hatred, friendships and enmities, dealings and relationships all stem from pure devotion to Allah. Merely speaking of faith is insufficient; complete and genuine faith requires this fundamental characteristic. Without this quality, one’s faith remains deficient.
Many people mistakenly believe that faith is complete if someone prays and fasts. This is a serious misunderstanding. Someone who prays and fasts but maintains strong ties with Allah’s enemies, holds corrupt beliefs, and disregards Islamic law does not possess true faith. Such a person cannot be considered a true believer.
Authentic faith demands that we cannot consider such individuals trustworthy until their loyalty and sincerity toward Islam and Muslims are proven. Even if they perform acts of worship and appear religious outwardly, it cannot benefit them. The true benefit of religion in this world comes only when a person becomes genuinely loyal to Islam and, in matters of life and death, stands with fellow Muslims.
Those who align with disbelievers—even when compelled by worldly circumstances—will not find salvation in the Hereafter. Allah will not consider them among the Muslims. The hearts of believers are in Allah’s hands, and He reveals people’s true nature in such situations. Those blessed with divine insight will see through such hypocrisy, even when the world cannot detect the flaws in such a person’s Islam.
The real worth of a person lies in one determining factor: whether they truly follow Allah’s path. If you remain loyal to Allah and stand firm on truth for His sake, then you have value. Otherwise, you are worthless in Allah’s sight.
The Essence of True Belief
Real Islam transcends mere claims—it demands complete transformation of one’s life. Islam means accepting truth and shaping your entire existence around it, living as one unified personality. Your entire life becomes a form of worship, making Islam a complete religion that demands seriousness and commitment.
Islam addresses life with understanding and responsibility—it is a religion of action. It doesn’t restrict Muslims to prayers, fasting, and ritual worship alone, but makes them actively involved in social matters, business, and all aspects of life. A Muslim’s existence cannot be separated from religion.
Beyond worship, a Muslim’s life is visible in streets, offices, fields, borders, and battlefields. They participate in everything, offering financial and physical sacrifice. Their politics and diplomacy reflect religious values. Their days and nights, victories and defeats, and all religious and worldly affairs embody Islamic teachings.
A true Muslim establishes educational systems for their children, manages their home according to Islamic principles, interacts with neighbors respectfully, governs their community justly, trades trustworthily, serves as a responsible officer, acts as a fair employer, and remains a respectful servant. Religion permeates every aspect of their life—nothing remains devoid of its influence.
The True Mark of a Believer
Today, Muslims are making their presence felt in politics, modern education, and various fields of life. However, many don’t recognize that any greatness they achieve stems from their connection with religion. Instead, they pursue achievements outside religious guidance.
Two Types of Muslims Emerge:
The First Type: Those whose personalities, behavior, and lifestyles are fully aligned with Islam. Every aspect of their lives reflects their religion. They consider being Muslim their greatest pride, actively participate in serving Islam, and their thoughts and actions demonstrate unwavering commitment. They work for Muslim causes, remain concerned about Muslim welfare, maintain an Islamic vision based on divine guidance, and want the world to respect Islam through their conduct.
These Muslims serve Islam with their hearts and souls, viewing it as a mission rather than merely a label. They want Islam to prevail in every aspect of life—social, economic, and political. For them, Islam represents a complete and comprehensive way of life.
The Second Type: Those who have separated religion from practical life, treating Islam as a cultural identity rather than a transformative force.
When examined closely, both types belong to the same community but represent entirely different ideologies. One Muslim embodies a living verse of the Quran, while the other remains merely a name. History testifies that Muslims disconnected from religion have never achieved lasting success or glory. Islam has always been served by those who fully embraced it.
The downfall of today’s Muslims stems from the dominance of the first type—those who have separated religion from life. This separation has caused Muslims to lose their identity and damaged the Islamic system. Such Muslims have become a burden on Islam rather than its champions.
Ego: The Enemy of True Faith
We must examine ourselves honestly: Are our anger and hatred truly for Allah’s sake? If our emotions stem from personal interests and losses rather than for Allah’s pleasure, we commit a grave error. Every action should be performed solely for Allah’s satisfaction, seeking nothing but His pleasure.
If we feel joy over worldly gains or sadness over losses, this indicates our connection isn’t truly with Allah. We should remain grateful to Him in all circumstances. We must not judge others by worldly standards but evaluate them according to Allah’s criteria.
We must cleanse our hearts from pride and arrogance. The path to becoming Allah’s friend lies in humility and sincerity. Those who serve for Allah’s pleasure never seek worldly rewards nor fear the consequences of worldly loss. Their thoughts, values, and priorities remain steadfast.
If we perform good deeds without receiving worldly praise or acknowledgment, it shouldn’t trouble us. True reward awaits in the Hereafter, and death will unveil that truth.
Preparing for the Eternal Journey
Alas, we become lost in worldly affairs and neglect reflection on the Hereafter. We’re so immersed in temporary matters that we forget our eternal abode. Brothers, we all must face death one day. The grave will question us.
Don’t concern yourself with others’ opinions about someone—whether they call him pious or evil. True judgment belongs to Allah alone. On the Day of Judgment, you won’t be questioned about others but about yourself.
Prepare yourself before death approaches. First, ensure your faith is correct, then focus on your actions. Don’t worry about others’ wrongdoings; instead, examine your own heart and deeds. Consider your value in Allah’s sight. If He is pleased with you, everything succeeds. But if He isn’t pleased, even the entire world and all its possessions become worthless.
A life lived with pride and arrogance leads to complete loss. Only a life of humility, sincerity, and piety earns success in Allah’s sight. Those sincere in faith and actions achieve true success—they are the ones Allah supports and makes dominant over falsehood.
And our final call is that all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions. I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and for all of you. Verily, He is the Most Kind, the Most Merciful, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. Glory be to Allah.
“The most perfect of the believers in faith is the one who is best in manners.” – Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
