Ikhlas
/ɪxˈlɑːs/noun
In Islam, sincere devotion to God performed without showing off or seeking worldly reward.
Did you know?Al-Ikhlāṣ, meaning “Sincerity” or “Purity,” is the name of Qur’an chapter 112, whose central message emphasizes God’s absolute oneness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ḫlṣ
“A root associated with being separated, freed, or made pure”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḫaluṣa
“To become pure, clear, or free from admixture”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḫāliṣ
“Pure, unmixed, genuine, or exclusive”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ikhlāṣ
“Purifying an intention; sincere devotion, especially devotion directed solely to God”
20th Century
English
ikhlas
“A transliterated Islamic term for sincerity and wholehearted religious devotion”
Modern English
English
Ikhlas
“Sincere devotion or purity of intention in Islamic religious and ethical contexts”