Ikhlas

Ikhlas is an Arabic term that carries meanings of 'purity', 'cleanliness', and 'sincerity'. In Sufism, it signifies that an action should be performed for the sake of Allah's pleasure. Ikhlas means that a person carries out every action and every act of worship with a sincere intention and solely for the purpose of serving Allah. This concept constitutes the essence of Sufism and is considered one of the fundamental ways to draw closer to Allah. Sufi masters have frequently emphasized the arduous yet necessary nature of attaining ikhlas. It is believed that acts of worship performed without ikhlas do not yield spiritual benefits. A person's intention determines the quality and degree of the worship they perform. Ikhlas also means a person submitting themselves to Allah, purifying themselves from the desires of the self, and directing themselves solely towards the Truth.