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37 37 The Second Principle: Sincerity (Ikhlāṣ) God the Exalted has said, «Worship God sincerely, dedicating faith to Him alone.»60 He has said, «Say, “I was ordered to worship God sincerely, dedicating faith to Him alone.”»61 He the Exalted has said, «They were ordered only to worship God sincerely, dedicating faith to Him alone.»62 Ibn ʿAbbās, may God be pleased with both him and his father, said, “In the Torah and the Gospel, people were commanded only to worship God sincerely , professing His oneness.” Ibn ʿUmar, may God be pleased with both him and his father, related as follows : “I heard the Emissary of God, God bless and cherish him, say, Three men from before your time set out on a journey and sought shelter in a cave for the night. As they entered, a boulder rolled down the mountain and trapped them in the cave. They said to one another, ‘We will only be saved if we appeal to God based on the righteousness of some deed.’ One of them said, ‘Dear God, my parents were very old, and I used to give them the evening drink of milk first, before my own wife, children, and slaves. Once, I was delayed, and when I came to my parents, they were asleep. I milked my animals for their evening drink, but I found my parents still sleeping. I was loathe to give the milk to my family or slaves before them, so I stayed, cup in hand, waiting for them to wake until dawn broke. [Some of those reporting this tradition add, “And the children were yelping at my feet.”] Then my parents awoke, and they drank their milk. Dear God, if I did this for Your sake, remove from us this boulder before us!’ Then the boulder moved slightly, but not enough for their escape. “The Prophet, God bless and cherish him, continued, The second one said, ‘Dear God, my uncle had a daughter whom I loved more than any other person. I wanted her, but she refused me. Then, some years later, I visited her, and I offered her one 2.1 2.2 2.3.1 2.3.2 38 38 � ��� ��� � � ��� � � � �� � � � � � � �� � � � � �� ��� ��� � ������� � �� � � � � � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ �‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ُ ‫ت‬ �‫ر‬‫�د‬ ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬ ‫�إ�ذ‬ ‫ى‬ � ّ‫ت‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫ت‬ � َ ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ف‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ب‬ ��‫و‬�� ‫ي‬ � � ‫ن‬�‫ي‬ ��‫ب‬ �� ‫ي‬ � � ّ ‫ل‬�� َ‫خ‬ � � ُ ‫ت‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � َّ‫ن‬ �� ‫أ‬ � ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫�ي‬�‫د‬ ‫ة‬ ��‫ئ‬ ��‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ن‬ �‫�ي‬‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ���‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ُ‫ط�ي�ت‬ �� � ‫ع‬ � ‫أ‬ �� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ي‬ � � ‫ه‬�‫و‬�� ُ ‫ت‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ر‬‫�ص‬ � ‫ن‬ ��‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ �‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ع‬ ‫و‬� ‫ق‬ � � �‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ُ ‫ت‬ � ‫ج‬ � �ّ ‫ر‬ ‫خ‬ � � ‫ت‬ � ‫ف‬ �� � � ‫ه‬� ّ‫ق‬ ��‫ح‬ �ِ ‫ب‬ � ‫ا‬ � ّ ‫ل‬ � � ‫�إ‬ ‫م‬ � ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬�‫خ‬ � � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ّ‫ض‬ �� �‫ف‬ ��‫�ت‬� ْ‫ن‬ � ‫أ‬ � َ ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ّ ‫ل‬�ِ‫ح‬ � �‫ي‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � : ‫ت‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫�ج‬ � ِ ‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ � � � ‫أ‬ �� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ك‬��‫ه‬ � ‫ج‬ � �‫و‬�� ‫ء‬‫ا‬�‫غ‬ � �‫ت‬ �‫ب‬ ��‫ا‬ ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ‫�ذ‬ ُ ‫ت‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ �‫ف‬ � � � ُ ‫ت‬ � ‫�ن‬ ‫ك‬ � �� ‫ن‬ � ‫�إ‬ ّ ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ّ ‫ل‬��‫ل‬� �‫أ‬ � . ‫ب‬ �‫�ه‬ ‫�ذ‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ُ ‫ت‬ �‫ك‬ � �� ‫ر‬ ‫�ت‬ ‫و‬�� ّ ‫ي‬ � � ‫ل‬�� ‫�إ‬ ‫س‬��‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ّ ‫ب‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫أ‬ � .‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫�ج‬ �‫و‬��‫ر‬ ‫خ‬ � � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�‫ع‬�‫ي‬ �‫ط‬ �� �‫ت‬ �‫�س‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ّ‫ن‬ �� ‫أ‬ � ‫ر‬‫ي‬ �� ‫�غ‬ � ‫�ة‬ ‫ر‬ ‫خ‬ � � ‫ص‬�� � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ْ‫ت‬ � ‫ج‬ � �‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ ��‫�ن‬�‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ن‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ا‬�ّ‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ُ‫ط�ي�ت‬ �� � ‫ع‬ � ‫أ‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ء‬‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ج‬ � � ُ ‫أ‬ � ُ ‫ت‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ج‬ � � ‫أ‬ ��‫ت‬ �‫�س‬�‫ا‬ ّ ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ّ ‫ل‬��‫ل‬� �‫أ‬ � : ‫ث‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ث‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬� ‫ق‬ � � � : ‫م‬ � ّ ‫ل‬ ��‫س‬��‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ّ ‫ل‬��‫ص‬� � ‫ي‬ � �‫ب‬ �‫ل�ن‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ع�د‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ي‬ � � ‫ن‬ �� ‫ء‬‫ا‬�‫ج‬ � � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫م‬� ‫أ‬� � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫ت‬ � َ ‫ر‬ ‫ث‬ ��‫ك‬ � �� ‫ى‬ � ّ‫ت‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫ه‬‫ر‬ ‫ج‬ � � ‫أ‬ � ُ ‫ت‬ �‫ر‬ ّ ‫�م‬� ‫ف�ث‬� � � َ ‫ب‬ � َ ‫�ه‬ َ‫�ذ‬ ‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ي‬ � � �‫�ذ‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ َ ‫ك‬ َ ‫ر‬ َ ‫�ت‬ ‫ل‬� ‫ج‬ �� �‫ر‬ ‫ر‬‫ي‬ �� ‫�غ‬ � ‫م‬ � ‫ه‬� ‫ر‬ ‫ج‬ � � َ‫أ‬ � ‫ر‬ ‫ق‬ ��‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ل‬�‫ب‬ ��� ‫�إ‬� ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫ك‬‫ر‬ ‫ج‬ � � ‫أ‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � �‫ر‬ َ ‫�ت‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬� :‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ُ ‫ت‬ �‫ل‬��‫ق‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � ‫ي‬ � � � ‫ر‬ ‫ج‬ � � ‫أ‬ � ّ ‫ي‬ � � ‫ل‬�� ‫�إ‬ ِ ّ ‫د‬ َ‫أ‬ � ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫�د‬‫ب‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �� :‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � ‫ن‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ح‬ � ‫ه‬ ‫�ذ‬��‫خ‬ � � ‫أ‬ �� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ك‬��‫ب‬ �� ‫ئ‬ � � �‫�ز‬ ‫ه‬ � ‫س�ت‬�� ‫أ‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ي‬ � � ّ‫ن‬ �� ‫�إ‬ : ُ ‫ت‬ �‫ل‬��‫ق‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � ‫ي‬ � �‫ب‬ �� ‫ئ‬ � � �‫�ز‬ ‫ه‬ � ‫س�ت‬�� ‫ت‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫�د‬‫ب‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �� :‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � ‫ق‬ � �‫ق�ي‬ � � �‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫م‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫�غ‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫�ج‬ � ِ ‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ � � � ‫أ‬ �� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ك‬��‫ه‬ � ‫ج‬ � �‫و‬�� ‫ء‬‫ا‬�‫غ‬ � �‫ت‬ �‫ب‬ ��‫ا‬ ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ‫�ذ‬ ُ ‫ت‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ �‫ف‬ � � � ُ ‫ت‬ � ‫�ن‬ ‫ك‬ � �� ‫ن‬ � ‫�إ‬ ّ ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ّ ‫ل‬��‫ل‬� �‫أ‬ � .‫ا‬� ً ‫ئ‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ش‬ ��� ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫ك‬‫ر‬ ‫ت‬ ��‫ي‬ �� ‫م‬ � ‫ل‬ �� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ه‬� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ت‬ �‫�س‬�‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ه‬� ّ ‫ل‬��‫ك‬ � �� ‫ه‬‫ا‬‫و‬��‫ور‬�� ‫ي‬ � � ‫ئ‬ �� ‫ا‬�‫س‬�� َ‫ن‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫م‬ � ‫ل‬ ��‫س‬��‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ي‬ � � �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫خ‬ � �‫ب‬ �‫ل‬��� ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬‫ا‬‫و‬��‫ر‬ . ‫ن‬ �‫و‬� ‫�ش‬��‫م‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫�ج‬ �‫ر‬ ‫خ‬ � � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫�ة‬ ‫ر‬ ‫خ‬ � � ‫ص‬�� � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ْ‫ت‬ � ‫ج‬ � �‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ ��‫�ن‬�‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ن‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ا‬�ّ‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � .‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ص‬� �‫ت‬ � ‫�خ‬ �‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫�ة‬ ‫ر‬‫�ي‬‫ر‬‫ه‬� ‫ي‬ � �‫ب‬ �� ‫أ‬ � ‫ث‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫د‬��‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫ه‬�‫ح‬ �‫ي‬ �‫ح‬� � ‫ص‬�� � ‫ي‬ � � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�ّ ‫ب‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ب‬ �‫ا‬ : ‫م‬ � ّ ‫ل‬ ��‫س‬��‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ّ ‫ل‬��‫ص‬� � ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�‫س‬��‫ر‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬� ‫ق‬ � � � :‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ � � ‫ض‬ �� �‫ر‬ ‫س‬��‫ي‬ �� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ن‬ �‫ب‬ � ‫ك‬‫ا‬� ّ ‫ح‬ � َ‫ض‬ ��� � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ص‬� �ِ ‫ل‬��‫خ‬ � � َ‫أ‬ � ‫س‬��‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ّ ‫ي‬ �� ‫أ‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �� . ‫ي‬ � � ‫ك‬ � � � ‫ي‬�‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ���‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬� ً ‫ك‬ � � � ‫ي‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ��� ‫ي‬ � � ‫ع‬ �‫م‬� ‫ك‬‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ��� َ‫أ‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫م‬� :‫ل‬� � ‫و‬� ‫ق‬ ��‫�ي‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬�‫ع‬ �‫�ت‬�‫و‬�� ‫ك‬‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �‫�ت‬� ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ َّ‫ن‬ � ‫�إ‬ ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫�ذ‬ �‫�ه‬ ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫و‬� ‫ق‬ ��‫�ت‬� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ص‬� � ‫ل‬��‫خ‬ � � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ا‬ � ّ ‫ل‬ � � ‫�إ‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫ع‬ � ‫أ‬� � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫ل‬� ‫ب‬ �� ‫ق‬ ��‫�ي‬� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬�‫ع‬ �‫�ت‬�‫و‬�� ‫ك‬‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �‫�ت‬� ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ َّ‫ن‬ � ‫�إ‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫م‬ �‫ك‬ � � �‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫ع‬ � ‫أ‬ � ‫م‬ �‫ك‬ � � �‫�ه‬‫و‬� ‫�ج‬ �‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � َّ‫ن‬ �� ‫�إ‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫م‬ �‫ك‬ � � �‫�ه‬‫و‬� ‫�ج‬ �‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�� ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫�ذ‬ �‫�ه‬ ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫و‬� ‫ق‬ ��‫�ت‬� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� ‫ء‬ ‫ي‬ � � ‫ش‬ ��� ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬ ‫س‬��‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�� ‫م‬ � ‫ح‬ �‫ر‬‫ل‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � َّ‫ن‬ �� ‫�إ‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫م‬ � ‫ح‬ �‫ر‬‫ل‬��‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�� . ‫ي‬ � � ‫ق‬��‫ه‬ �‫�ي‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫س‬�� ‫أ‬ ��‫ب‬ �� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫د‬‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫�س‬� ‫�إ‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ر‬‫ا‬ ّ‫�ز‬ ‫ب‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬‫ا‬‫و‬��‫ر‬ .‫ء‬ ‫ي‬ � � ‫ش‬ ��� ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬ ‫س‬��‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�� ‫ي‬ � � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫م‬ � ّ ‫ل‬ ��‫س‬��‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ّ ‫ل‬��‫ص‬� � ‫ي‬ � �‫ب‬ �‫ل�ن‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ � � ‫ض‬ �� �‫ر‬ ‫ي‬ � � �‫ر‬ ْ ‫د‬�� ُ‫خ‬ � � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫�د‬‫ي‬ �‫ع‬ �‫�س‬� ‫ي‬ � �‫ب‬ �� َ‫أ‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ث‬ �‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫ث‬ �� .‫ه‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ق‬ �� ‫ف‬ ��‫ب‬ �� ‫س‬��‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬� � ٍ‫ه‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � ‫ل‬�‫�م‬�‫ا‬�‫ح‬ � ّ ‫ب‬ � ُ ‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬�‫ا‬�‫ع‬ �‫و‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ي‬ � � ‫ت‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫م‬� ‫ع‬ �‫م‬ �‫س‬�� ‫أ‬ �‫ر‬‫م‬� ‫ٱ‬ � ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬‫ر‬ ّ‫ض‬ �� � ‫ن‬ �� : ‫ع‬ ‫ا‬‫د‬‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ �� ّ ‫ج‬ � � ‫ح‬ � ‫م‬ �‫و‬�� ‫�ز‬‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�� ‫ن‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫م‬�‫ل‬��‫س‬��‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ ��‫م‬� ‫ئ‬ � ‫أ‬� � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ة‬ ��‫ح‬ � ‫ص‬�� �‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬ ‫ل‬�‫�م‬�‫ع‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ص‬� �‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫خ‬ � � ‫�إ‬ :‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫�ؤ‬�‫م‬� ‫ئ‬ � � � ‫ر‬‫م‬�‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ل‬�� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ي‬ � � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬ � ّ ‫ل‬ � � ‫�إ‬ ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫ي‬ � ٣٫٣٫٢ ٤٫٢ ٥٫٢ [3.22.248.208] Project MUSE (2024-04-20 06:16 GMT) 39 39 The Second Principle: Sincerit hundred and twenty dinars if she would let me have my way with her. She agreed, but as I was about to mount her, she said, “You are not permitted to take my virginity unless you marry me!” I got off and left, though I loved her more than any other person, and I left the gold. Dear God, if I did that for Your sake, remove from us this boulder before us!’ Then the boulder moved, but not enough for their escape. “The Prophet, God bless and cherish him, continued, The third one said, ‘Dear God, I hired a group of workers and gave them their wages, except for one man who had left without collecting them. I invested his wages, and the wealth grew considerably. After a time, he came to me and said, “O servant of God, give me my wages.” I replied, “All that you see here—camels, cattle, sheep, slaves—is from your wages,” and he said, “O servant of God, don’t mock me!” “I am certainly not mocking you,” I replied. So he took them all and herded them off, leaving nothing behind. Dear God, if I did this for Your sake, remove this boulder before us.’ Then the boulder moved, and they walked out.” This is reported by al-Bukhārī, Muslim, and al-Nasāʾī. Ibn Ḥibbān also reports it in his Sound Traditions (Ṣaḥīḥ) in summary fashion from a tradition from Abū Hurayrah. Al-Ḍaḥḥāk ibn Qays, may God be pleased with him, related as follows: “The Emissary of God, God bless and cherish him, said, ‘Blessed and exalted God has said, “Anyone who attributes a partner to Me belongs to that partner!” O people, dedicate your deeds with sincerity, for God, blessed and exalted, does not accept any deed unless it is dedicated sincerely to Him. Do not say this is for God and kin. For then it is for kin, and none of it is for God. Do not say this is for God and yourselves. For then it is for yourselves, and none of it is for God.’” Al-Bazzār reports this with an acceptable chain of authorities, and...

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