All Actions are judged by their
Intentions
Hadith #1
Imam an-Nawawi’s Forty
Translation
The Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al-Khattab,
relates that he heard Allah's Messenger (saw) say:
"Actions are but by intentions and every man will
have only what he intended. So whoever emigrated
for Allah and His Messenger, then his emigration
was for Allah and His Messenger. And whoever
emigrated to attain something of this world or to
marry a woman, then his emigration was for
whatever reason he emigrated."
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]
The Narrator
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Who was Amir Al-Mu’Mineen?

His Acceptance to Islam was an answer to the du’a
of the Prophet (saw)

The Prophet (saw) said, I am the last of the Prophets
but if there were to ever be a prophet after me it
would have been Umar ibn al-Khatab (An-Nisa’i)
The Importance of this
Hadith

Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: "The principles of Islam are
covered by three hadith: the hadith related by `Umar
that actions are but by intentions, the hadith related
by A'ishah that states whoever innovates a matter in
this matter of ours will have it rejected, and the
hadith related by al-Nu`man ibn Bashir which states
that what is lawful is clear and what is unlawful is
clear."
The Story

It is related that a man sought the hand of a woman
called Umm Qays. She refused to marry him unless
he undertook the emigration to Medinah. So he
made the emigration and married her in Medinah.
He became known as "the emigrant to Umm Qays”.
(Fath Al Bari)
Breaking Down
“Intentions”
Fiqh
Sincerity
"Among you are those
who desire the life of this
world and among you are
those who desire the
Hereafter."
[Surah Al `Imran: 152]
"Restrain yourself along with
those who cry to their Lord in
the morning and evening,
seeking His Countenance; and
let not your eyes overlook
them, desiring the pomp of the
life of this world" [Surah alKahf: 28]
Distinguishing one act of worship from another.
This includes a worshipper distinguishing the
noon prayer from the afternoon prayer, his
voluntary fasts from his Ramadan fasts, and his
acts of worship from everyday activities that
might resemble them - like distinguishing
between his bath for ritual purification and a
bath to cool off
Determining the reason behind the
act that is being performed. This is
the issue of whether he is
performing the act sincerely for
Allah alone.
Actions & Intentions

Allah says: "There is no good in much of their secret
talk save (in) him who enjoins almsgiving and
goodness and peace-making among the people.
Whoever does this seeking the good pleasure of
Allah, We shall bestow on him a vast reward."
[Surah al-Nisa': 114]

How to we move from Mandoob to Mustahab?
Making Our Actions
Count
Immigration vs.
Emigration

I immigrated from Canada to Saudi Arabia for the
sake of Islam

I then emigrated back to Canada from Saudi Arabia
for the sake of my Islam

Emigrate: to leave one country or region to settle in
another

Immigrate: to come to a country of which one is not
a native, usually for permanent residence.
Emigration

The reasons why a Muslim must emigrate include:
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
Ikhlas versus Riya’

Allah's Messenger (saw) said: "The first of people to be judged on the Day of Resurrection will be
a man who died a martyr. He will be brought forward and Allah will make him recount his
blessings and he will do so. Then Allah will ask: 'What did you do for these blessings?' He will
say: 'I fought on your behalf until I was martyred.' Allah will say: 'You are lying. You fought so
that the people would call you brave, and indeed they called you that.' Then he will be summoned
and dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell. Another will be a man who acquired knowledge
and imparted it and recited the Qur'an. He will be brought forward and Allah will make him
recount his blessings and he will do so. Then Allah will ask: 'What did you do for these blessings?'
He will say: 'I acquired knowledge and imparted it and I recited the Qur'an for your sake.' Allah
will say: 'You are lying. You acquired knowledge so people would call you a learned man and you
recited the Qur'an so that people would call you a good reciter. Indeed they called you these
things.' Then he will be summoned and dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell. Another will
be a man who Allah had enriched with all manner of wealth. He will be brought forward and
Allah will make him recount his blessings and he will do so. Then Allah will ask: 'What did you
do for these blessings?' He will say: 'I spent money for your sake on every cause in which You
wish money to be spent.' Allah will say: 'You are lying. You did this so that people would call you
generous, and indeed they called you that.' Then he will be summoned and dragged on his face
until he is cast into Hell." [Sahih Muslim]
2 Birds with 1 Stone?

Sometimes a person may perform some acts of
devotion with a dual motive - to please Allah and
impress someone else. Such deeds are also bereft of
blessings. The Prophet (saw) said: "Allah - the
Blessed and Sublime - says: '"I am in no need of
partners. Whoever does a deed for the sake of others
as well as me, I leave his deed for those others.'"
[Sahih Muslim]
The Du’a of Abu Bakr

{Allahuma inni a'oudhibika an ooshrika bika wa ana a’lamoo wa
astaghfirooka lee ma la a'lim}

The Prophet (saw) taught Abu Bakr a supplication by which we can
ask Allah forgiveness when insincerity strikes us unawares. He
instructed him to say: "O Allah! I seek refuge with you from
associating partners with you knowingly and I seek your forgiveness
for what I do unknowingly." [al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrid]