Hadith: Intentions for Actions

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'Umar bin Al-Khattab (ra) reported: Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "The deeds are by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention. So whoever emigrated for Allah and his Messenger, his emigration will be for Allah and his Messenger; and whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration would be for what he imigrated for. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Background

This hadith was said by the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, at the time when a man emigrated from Makkah to Madinah during the Hijrah for the sake of marrying someone and not for the sake of Islam. It is considered to be one of the greatest hadiths in Islam.

Lessons

This hadith emphasises ikhlas (sincerity - to be truthful and honest to Allah alone, performing an act solely for Allah's sake whereby no other witness except Allah is sought). Ikhlas is one of the conditions of accepting good deeds. The other condition is that the actions must be done in accordance with the Shariah.

Ways to obtain Ikhlas :

1. Doing righteous deeds

2. Seek knowledge (ilm)

3. Ask yourself: "Is this deed for the sake of Allah?"