Central Khutbah: “Hidden Acts of Worship and the Sincerity of the Early Generations”

The first generations of Muslims were not distinguished only by their great knowledge and beautiful words. Their knowledge was transformed into worship, their faith into character, and their words into concrete actions. They sought to follow the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in their public and private lives, acting upon the words of Allah, the Most High:

“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.” (Qur’an, Al-Ahzab, 21)

Their first concern was sincerity. What mattered most to them was not how many people would see their deeds, but how those deeds would be accepted by Allah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Allah does not accept any deed except that which is done sincerely for Him and by which His Face is sought.” (An-Nasa’i, As-Sunan, no. 3140, from Abu Umamah Al-Bahili, may Allah be pleased with him)

Sincerity does not only mean beginning a deed with a good intention. The intention must be preserved before the action, during its performance, and after it has been completed. A person may do a good deed for the sake of Allah, then ruin it by constantly speaking about it, seeking people’s praise, or feeling that he is better than others.

Sufyan Ath-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

“They used to learn the intention for a deed just as they learned the deed itself.” (Abu Talib Al-Makki, Qut Al-Qulub, 2/268)

The early generations learned how to purify their intentions, how to conceal their good deeds, and how to protect their hearts from the desire for people’s praise. They knew that a person may know the rulings of prayer, fasting, and charity, but if he does not know the illnesses of his own heart, his deeds may remain without blessing.

Muhammad ibn Wasi‘, may Allah have mercy on him, described the people he had met:

“I encountered people whose heads rested on the same pillow as their wives’ heads, yet the place beneath their cheeks was wet from their tears, while their wives did not even notice. I also encountered people who stood in the prayer row, with tears flowing down their faces, while the person beside them did not notice.” (Abu Nu‘aym Al-Asbahani, Hilyat Al-Awliya’, 2/347)

Their devotion was not a performance. They did not want people to speak about their crying, their night prayers, or their recitation of the Qur’an. Their most valuable deeds were often between them and their Lord.

It is narrated from Abu At-Tayyah Yazid ibn Humayd, may Allah have mercy on him:

“A person among them would recite the Qur’an for twenty years, and his neighbours would not even know about it.” (Abu Nu‘aym Al-Asbahani, Hilyat Al-Awliya’, in the biography of Abu At-Tayyah Yazid ibn Humayd)

Today, a person is often tested by the desire to publicize a good deed before even completing it. He shares his charity, worship, recitation, journey, or assistance to others. A good deed may be mentioned in order to encourage others, but the believer must constantly examine his heart: Would he have done the same deed if nobody knew about it?

The sincerity of the early generations was especially evident in their relationship with prayer. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said about Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both:

“What an excellent man Abdullah is, if only he would pray during the night!” Abdullah thereafter slept very little during the night. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, nos. 1121–1122; Sahih Muslim, no. 2479)

A short recommendation from the Prophet ﷺ transformed his life. He did not try to justify his previous shortcoming; rather, he immediately turned the advice into action.

This was one of the most remarkable qualities of the early generations: when they learned the truth, they did not merely transmit it to others; they first applied it to themselves. Their knowledge was not an ornament in conversations, but a path towards obedience.

Their sincerity was also shown in their relationship with wealth. Allah, the Most High, says:

“You will never attain true righteousness until you spend from that which you love.” (Qur’an, Aal ‘Imran, 92)

When this verse was revealed, Abu Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him, came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said that the part of his wealth he loved the most was the garden of Bayruha’, and that he wished to give it in charity for the sake of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ praised his action and advised him to distribute it among his relatives, which Abu Talhah did. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Kitab Az-Zakat and Kitab At-Tafsir; Sahih Muslim, Kitab Az-Zakat, the hadith of Anas ibn Malik regarding Bayruha’)

Abu Talhah did not give away what was insignificant or unnecessary to him. He gave what he loved the most. This is where sincerity appears: giving priority to Allah over one’s own desires and rejoicing more in the reward with Him than in what remains in one’s own hands.

It is narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, that he said:

“It is more beloved to me to take care of a Muslim family for a month, a week, or whatever Allah decrees, than to perform Hajj after Hajj.” (Abu Nu‘aym Al-Asbahani, Hilyat Al-Awliya’, 1/328; this narration is reported as a statement attributed to Ibn Abbas, though its chain contains Abdul-Ghafur ibn Sa‘id)

This statement does not diminish the value of Hajj; rather, it highlights the greatness of caring for people. Feeding the hungry, helping someone burdened by debt, supporting a poor family, and relieving the hardship of a Muslim are great deeds that often remain hidden from people’s eyes.

The early generations were not free from mistakes, but they were sincere in fighting against their own weaknesses. They were not satisfied with the outward appearance of deeds; they cared for what was inside them: sincerity, humility, and following the Sunnah.

Our greatest need is not for people to know how many good deeds we have done, but for Allah to accept what we have done. Therefore, every believer should have at least one good deed that nobody knows about except Allah: two units of prayer during the night, a sincere supplication, a hidden charity, helping someone in difficulty, or a tear of repentance.

Perhaps that hidden deed, which people never saw or praised, will be the very reason for our salvation on the Day when people’s praises will be of no benefit, and only a pure heart and a deed accepted by Allah will matter.

(Central khutbah by the Muslim Religious Leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on July 3, 2026, at the “Association Islamique et Culturelle Afnane” in Esch-sur-Alzette)