Allah loves sincerity

‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar narrates:

“I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “Three men from among those who were before you, set out together till they reached a cave at night and entered it. A big rock rolled down the mountain and closed the mouth of the cave. They said (to each other), Nothing could save you from this rock but to invoke Allah by giving reference to the righteous deed which you have done (for Allah’s sake only).’

So, one of them said, ‘O Allah! I had old parents and I never provided my family (wife, children etc..) with milk before them. One day, by chance I was delayed, and I came late (at night) while they had slept. I milked the sheep for them and took the milk to them, but I found them sleeping. I disliked to provide my family with the milk before them. I waited for them and the bowl of milk was in my hand and I kept on waiting for them to get up till the day dawned. Then they got up and drank the milk. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us from our critical situation caused by this rock.’ So, the rock shifted a little but they could not get out.”

The Prophet added, “The second man said, ‘O Allah! I had a cousin who was the dearest of all people to me and I wanted to have sexual relations with her but she refused. Later she had a hard time in a famine year and she came to me and I gave her one hundred and twenty Dinars on the condition that she would not resist my desire, and she agreed. When I was about to fulfill my desire, she said: ‘It is illegal for you to outrage my chastity except by legitimate marriage.’ So, I thought it a sin to have sexual intercourse with her and left her though she was the dearest of all the people to me, and also I left the gold I had given her. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us from the present calamity.’ So, the rock shifted a little more but still they could not get out from there.”

The Prophet added, “Then the third man said, ‘O Allah! I employed few laborers and I paid them their wages with the exception of one man who did not take his wages and went away. I invested his wages and I got much property thereby. (Then after some time) he came and said to me: ‘O Allah’s slave! Pay me my wages.’ I said to him: ‘All the camels, cows, sheep and slaves you see, are yours.’ He said: ‘O Allah’s slave! Don’t mock at me.’ I said: ‘I am not mocking at you.’ So, he took all the herd and drove them away and left nothing. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us from the present suffering.’ So, that rock shifted completely and they got out walking.”

(This Hadith also indicates that one can only ask Allah for help directly or through his performed good deeds. But to ask Allah through dead or absent prophets, saints, spirits, holy men, angels etc.. is absolutely forbidden in Islam and it is a kind of disbelief.)

[Sahih Bukhari, Book #36, Hadith #472]