deeds, as in the saying of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace—in the authentic hadith:
“The son of Adam’s share of unlawful sexual intercourse has been decreed for him, and he will inevitably encounter it. The eyes commit it through looking, the ears through listening, the hands through grasping, and the feet through walking. The heart wishes and desires, and the private parts confirm this or deny it.”
People also say, “They made a true charge against the enemy,” when their resolve to fight is firm and unwavering. They say, “So-and-so is true in his love and affection,” and similar expressions. Thus, by a truthful person they mean someone true in his will, intention, and pursuit—someone true in his deeds. They also mean someone truthful in his reports and speech. The hypocrite is the opposite of the truthful believer: he is false either in what he says or in what he does, like someone who performs deeds to show off.
Allah, exalted is He, says:
“Indeed, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He who deceives them. When they rise for prayer, they rise lazily, showing off before people”—and so on through the following verse.
As for sincerity, it is the very essence of Islam, for Islam means submission to Allah, not to anyone else. As He, exalted is He, says:
“Allah presents an example: a man belonging to quarrelling partners, and a man belonging exclusively to one man—are the two equal?”—to the end of the verse.
Whoever does not submit to Allah has acted arrogantly, and whoever submits to Allah and to others has associated partners with Him. Both arrogance and associating partners with Allah are contrary to Islam, and Islam is contrary to both.
The corresponding verb is used both intransitively and transitively, as He, exalted is He, says:
“When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit,’ he said, ‘I have submitted to the Lord of all worlds.’”
And He, exalted is He, says:
“Yes indeed! Whoever submits his face to Allah while doing good will have his reward with his Lord. No fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve.”
There are many similar passages in the Quran.