#DastarkhwaneRamzan
If I adore You out of fear of Hell, burn me in Hell!
If I adore you out of desire for Paradise,
Lock me out of Paradise.
But if I adore you for Yourself alone,
Do not deny to me Your eternal beauty.
Rabia al Basri
Sincerity is worshipping Allah for His sake, and not with the expectation of rewards or out of fear of punishment. This is best exemplified in Rabia al-Basri’s aforementioned verse.
Sincere worship is to embrace the divine command with utmost humility – in heart and spirit. Sincerity in oneself is to avoid being critical of others; sincerity of the heart is to be oblivious to others’ opinions about you, and sincerity of the spirit is cleansing oneself of the desire to be distinguished.
( from In Search of the Divine)
