SINCERITY OF INTENTION (NIYYAH)

Mar 16, '13 12:58 PM for everyone

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a), while explaining the utterance of God Almighty, 

"That He might try you (to see) which of you is fairest in works." (67:2) said: "It does not mean one of you whose deeds are more numerous but one who is more rightful in his conduct, and this rightness is nothing but fear of God and sincerity of intention (niyyah) and fear." Then he (a) added: 

"To persevere in an action until it becomes sincere is more difficult than (performing) the action itself, and sincerity of action lies in this that you should not desire anyone to praise you for it except 

God Almighty, and intention supersedes action.Lo,verily,intention is action itself." 

Then he recited the Qur'anic verse, "Say,everyone acts in accordance with his character (shakilatihi)", (17:84) adding, "That shakilah means niyyah."