THE TWENTY-FIRST FLASH

Although this treatise was originally the Fourth Matter of the Seventeenth Note of the Seventeenth Flash, it was subsequently designated as the Second Point of the Twentieth Flash because of its connection with sincerity (ikhlāsSincerity in worship, seeking only the pleasure of Allah and avoiding the pursuit of fame or status.). Ultimately, owing to its luminous character, it was included in The Flashes as the Twenty-First Flash.

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحٖيمِIn the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رٖيحُكُمْDo not dispute with one another, lest you lose heart and your strength depart. – The Quran 8:46

وَ قُومُوا لِلّٰهِ قَانِتٖينَAnd stand before Allah in humble obedience. — The Qur’an 2:238

قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكّٰيهَا وَ قَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسّٰيهَاIndeed, successful is the one who purifies his soul, and failed is the one who corrupts it. — The Qur’an 91:9–10

وَلاَ تَشْتَرُوا بِاٰيَاتِى ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاًAnd do not exchange My verses for a small price. — The Qur’an 2:41

O my brothers of the Hereafter and my companions in the service of the Qur’an!

You should know—and indeed you do know—that in this world, sincerity (ikhlāsSincerity in worship, seeking only the pleasure of Allah and avoiding the pursuit of fame or status.) is the most important principle in works pertaining to the Hereafter. It is the greatest source of strength, the most acceptable intercessor, the firmest point of support, the shortest path to truth, the most acceptable supplication, the most wondrous means of attaining one’s goal, the highest virtue, and the purest form of worship.

Sincerity possesses such immense strength and so many lights, as described above. Yet we find ourselves in a most dreadful age, surrounded by formidable enemies and subjected to severe oppression amid widespread bidahsReligious innovations that are not prescribed by the Qur’an or by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). and misguidance. We are few in number, weak, needy, and powerless. Nevertheless, through the grace of Allah, we have been entrusted with an immensely weighty, important, far-reaching, and sacred duty: the service of the imānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar). and the Qur’an.

In these circumstances, we are surely obliged, more than anyone else, to strive with all our strength to attain sincerity. Above all, we need to establish sincerity firmly within ourselves.

Otherwise, the service we have rendered thus far will, in part, be wasted and fail to endure. We shall be held responsible and come under the severe warning contained in the Divine prohibition:

وَلاَ تَشْتَرُوا بِاٰيَاتِى ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاًAnd do not exchange My verses for a small price. — The Qur’an 2:41

For if we sacrifice sincerity for the sake of meaningless, unnecessary, harmful, distressing, selfish, troublesome, and hypocritical feelings and insignificant personal interests, we shall harm our eternal happiness. In doing so, we would violate the rights of all our brothers, betray our duty of serving the Qur’an, and show disrespect toward the sanctity of the truths of faith.

O my brothers!

There are many obstacles in the path of great and noble works. Devils fiercely oppose those who undertake such services. In the face of these obstacles and devils, you must rely upon the strength of sincerity. Avoid everything that harms sincerity just as you would avoid snakes and scorpions.

As the Prophet Yūsuf (as)The son of Prophet Yaqūb (as), known for his extraordinary beauty, patience, chastity, and trust in Allah. His story is narrated in Surah Yūsuf (Chapter 12 of the Qur’an) declared:

اِنَّ النَّفْسَ َلاَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ اِلاَّ مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّىIndeed, the soul constantly inclines toward evil, except those upon whom my Lord has mercy. — The Qur’an 12:53

The nafs-i ammārahThe aspect of the soul that incites a person toward evil and harbors negative traits and desires. cannot be trusted. Do not allow egotism or the nafs-i ammārahThe aspect of the soul that incites a person toward evil and harbors negative traits and desires. to deceive you!

In order to attain and preserve sincerity, you should take the following principles as your guide.