Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas

Durrat al-Qulub: al-Ikhlas (Arabic: درة القلوب الإخلاص) is a spiritual and exhortative treatise on sincerity of intention (ikhlas) and the perils of ostentation (riya'), authored by Azhari Ahmad Mahmoud Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas+1.

Theme and Core Concepts

The treatise addresses the rectification of hearts and the cultivation of pure intentions toward Allah Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas. The author defines sincerity by drawing on classical scholars, characterising it as dedicating obedience solely to Allah, purifying acts of worship from the regard of creation, and continuously directing attention toward the Creator rather than seeking the praise of people Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas.

Citing al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad on the Quranic verse الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا , the work underscores that deeds are only accepted by Allah if they meet two conditions: being done purely for His sake (khalisan) and conforming strictly to the prophetic Sunnah (sawaban) Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas.

Structure and Contents

The booklet is composed in a direct, homiletic prose style addressed to the reader ("أخي المسلم") Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas+1. It develops its theme across several key topics:

• The Importance of Intention: The text explores the significance of the prophetic tradition إنما الأعمال بالنيات ("Actions are judged by intentions"), noting statements such as 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi's wish to place this narration at the opening of every subject, and highlighting that genuine intentions elevate believers even when they are physically prevented from performing deeds Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas+1.
• Statements of the Early Predecessors: The author collects aphorisms on the internal struggle to maintain sincerity from prominent figures, including Sufyan al-Thawri, Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, Ibn al-Mubarak, Mutarrif ibn 'Abdullah, Yusuf ibn al-Husayn al-Razi, Yusuf ibn Asbat, and Sahl ibn 'Abdullah al-Tustari Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas.
• Concealing Righteous Deeds: To illustrate how early scholars protected their acts of worship from showing off, the work recounts biographical anecdotes:
  • 'Amir ibn 'Abd Qays abstaining from voluntary prayers in the mosque despite praying one thousand rak'ahs daily Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas.
  • Abu Wa'il Shaqiq ibn Salama weeping exclusively in private prayer Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas.
  • Al-Rabi' ibn Khuthaym concealing the Mushaf beneath his garment whenever a visitor arrived Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas.
  • Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani leaving his gathering whenever moved to tears Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas.
  • Dawud ibn Abi Hind fasting for twenty years without his family knowing, distributing his food as charity on the way to the market Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas.
  • 'Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak veiling his face during battle against the Byzantines so as not to be recognized and praised Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas.
• Critique of Ostentation: The booklet concludes with warnings against hidden ostentation (al-riya' al-khafiyy), citing Ibn al-Jawzi on how individuals may subtly seek prestige by letting others know of their prolonged fasting or deliberately hiding their eating to preserve reputation Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas.

Scholarly Citations

The treatise relies heavily on excerpts from later classical authors, primarily Ibn al-Qayyim and Ibn Taymiyyah, citing their insights on spiritual servitude, prayers of supplication, and the comparison between the fleeting nature of insincere action and the enduring value of acts dedicated solely to God Durrat al-Qulub al-Ikhlas+2.