Al-Ikhlas Al-Ikhlas

((And We have presented to them what they have done of deeds, so We made it scattered particles))...A verse for each of us to make it an eye-catcher, especially for those who lead the call in this time...Perhaps the matter was easier in the past, when you would write an article or record a lecture and not know who read it, how many they were, or whether they were affected by it and what they called for you in the unseen. But now, when there are counters for all of this, a counter for your followers on your page, a counter for (likes), another for (shares), a counter for views on YouTube, and a group of comments, praises, and flattery...We may forget to care about the count of good deeds! And we find ourselves unconsciously following the numbers of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, oblivious to the reasons for the acceptance of the work. In the early days of my marriage, I went through sad moments...I remembered the story of the three who were blocked in the cave by a rock, and they called upon Allah with their righteous deeds, and each of them said something close to: (O Allah, if You know that I did this seeking Your Face, then relieve us from this distress). I turned the pages of my life in search of a pure deed that had no trace of impurity to seek with it to my Lord, and I learned at that moment the meaning of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: ((Know Allah in prosperity, and He will know you in adversity)), and I wished I had taken more care of the purity of my deeds, and I remembered the saying of Allah the Almighty: ((Then look again and again, your sight will return to you humbled and weary)), and I found myself sighing with the following verses: When they closed the doors on me and despair almost crushed every human being, I bowed my head to you, my Lord, and I hope for your help in my distress. And I searched in my work to see if I had stored something for my distress. What a treasure with a pure deed that my Lord would be pleased with, and it would intercede for me in removing distress. But I saw nothing but a barren desert, and I came to you with nothing but my sin! But I love you, my God, and I have shortened my poetry and prose with your love, and I did not extend my hand to you, my God, but it returned from your gifts empty. I thought your forgiveness, my Lord, was good, for I have not done anything but good. So have mercy on your weak one, my God, and make him happy with ease after hardship, and return me to my aging parents to see how good I am to them. Answer me if you know the truth of my words, for your announcement and secrecy will not be hidden from you. And my Lord, the Forbearing, responded with His generosity despite my evil. All praise is due to Him, and to Him is the favor and the good praise. So let us, brothers and sisters, compete in sincerity...Al-Ikhlas Al-Ikhlas! Nothing will save you from the distress of this world and the Hereafter except sincerity, and nothing will make you feel comfort and intimacy in your relationship with your Lord, glorified and exalted be He, except sincerity, and nothing will remain with you in your grave from your righteous deeds except what was purely for Allah the Almighty, and nothing will weigh down your scale of good deeds on the Day of Meeting Allah except it. As for the (shares), the (likes), the (comments), and the views...without sincerity, your Lord will make them scattered particles. So say to those who are not sincere: Do not tire yourself!