عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، يَقُولُ : ” إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى، فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى دُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوْ إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ يَنْكِحُهَا، فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ (متفق علیهِ)
Translation:
“Deeds are judged only by intentions, and every man will have only what he intended. So, whoever’s migration was to Allah and His Messenger, then his migration was to Allah and His Messenger. But whoever’s migration was for some worldly benefit or for a woman to marry, then his migration was for what he migrated for.”
This hadith is considered one of the foundations of Islam.
Imam Shafi‘i (رحمه الله) said:
“This hadith covers one-third of knowledge.”
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) said:
“The principles of Islam revolve around three hadiths, and this is one of them.” It teaches us that the value of every deed in Islam depends on the intention behind it.
Inspiring story on intention
One day, while a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ was building his house, he thoughtfully placed a window facing the mosque.
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ noticed this, he asked him gently: “What made you place this window here?”
The Companion replied with simplicity, “O Messenger of Allah, I made it so that fresh air can pass through.”
The Prophet ﷺ then gave him a timeless reminder about intention. He said:
“If you had made the intention that the call to prayer (Adhān) would come to you through this window, you would have been rewarded for it as well — while the flow of air would have continued regardless.”
This beautiful moment shows us that even the simplest acts, like opening a window, can turn into worship if the intention is for Allah.
Key lessons from the hadith
1. The Role of Intention (Niyyah)
Every action—whether prayer, fasting, charity, or daily tasks—depends on what is in the heart.
An outwardly good deed without sincere intention may carry no weight with Allah.
Even ordinary acts (eating, sleeping, working) can become acts of worship if done with the right intention.
2. Sincerity (Ikhlās)
Allah only accepts deeds done purely for His sake.
Showing off (riya), seeking fame, or worldly benefits removes the spiritual value of worship.
Sincere niyyah transforms small deeds into great rewards.
3. Migration Example (Hijrah)
At the time, Muslims migrated from Makkah to Madinah. Some did so purely for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, while others did it for worldly reasons (business or marriage).
The Prophet ﷺ clarified that the same outward action can have completely different values depending on the intention.
4. Universal Principle
This hadith applies to every field of life—worship, work, studies, family life, or business.
What matters is not just what you do, but why you do it.
Practical Applications fro us
Prayer: If we pray to show off, the prayer has no value before Allah. If we pray to seek His pleasure, it becomes a means of forgiveness and reward.
Charity: Giving wealth to gain fame brings no spiritual reward. Giving it quietly for Allah’s sake brings multiplied rewards.
Work & Studies: If our intention is only worldly success, we gain that alone. But if we intend to use knowledge and wealth to please Allah, they become worship.
Daily Life: Even smiling, feeding family, or resting can become worship with sincere intention.
Summary
This hadith lays down a golden rule of Islam:
- The heart determines the value of the deed.
- Sincerity makes ordinary actions extraordinary.
- Without pure intention, even the greatest deeds may carry no reward.
Beautiful Reminder:
Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said: “A deed without sincerity is like a traveler carrying sand—he thinks he is benefiting, but in reality, he is only burdening himself.”
