"Except for those among them who are Your sincere servants."
Muhammad said: Whoever recites "al-mukhlisīn" (with a kasra on the lam) means: those who have made their religion sincere for Allah. And whoever recites it with a fatha (al-mukhlasīn), the meaning is: those whom Allah has chosen for His worship.
(إِلَا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ.
قَالَ محمدٌ: من قَرَأَ ﴿المخلصين﴾ بِكَسْر اللَّام أَرَادَ: الَّذين أَخْلصُوا دينهم لله , وَمن قَرَأَ بِالْفَتْح؛ فَالْمَعْنى: الَّذين أخلصهم الله لعبادته.
