According to a famous tradition, ‘our actions are judged by our intentions. The intention here is the equivalent of what is generally called spirit. It means that although there are many actions that in form appear to be morally acceptable, it is to the spirit of these acts rather than their external form that Islam attaches fundamental importance.
From a Hadith, we learn that Prophet Muhammad, speaking of the Muslims of the future, predicted that only the external form of Islamic actions would survive. That is to say, the actions of the Muslims of the future would be lacking in inner spirit, and only the outer form of their religious observances would persist. People will remain ignorant of the true spirit of Islam so long as they are conversant only with its forms and attach importance only to the externals.
It is easy to understand how extremism, or ghulu, stems from this flawed perception. In the early days of Islam, the spirit was alive and was accorded full attention. However, external rituals became more critical when degeneration prevailed among the later generations. It is a frequent occurrence.
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Intention or niyyah is of utmost important in Islam. The Prophet of Islam said, “Verily, the people will only be raised for judgment based on their intentions.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 4229)
No act, simply on account of its appearance of being commendable can be acceptable to God. God accepts only such deeds as have been performed with the right intention. No act done with evil intention is acceptable to God. When a person performs some task solely for God’s pleasure and with the aim of being rewarded for it in the Hereafter that shows he is a person of good intention.
On the contrary, when a person acts in a way that is ostensibly religious, with the hope of promoting some worldly interest thereby, receiving appreciation, gaining in popularity among others and finding a place of honour among them, that shows an evil intention.
Intention relates to one’s thinking or inner state. People may not be able to discover the inner state of a person’s mind when he performs a certain action. But God is fully cognizant of what is going on in his mind. He knows what kind of feelings he had at that time. People may mistake an evil act for a good act, but God has full knowledge of all things and will deal with everyone accordingly. He will reward a person exactly as he deserves.
The significance of intention is that of truth and meaningfulness. When something is lacking in truth and meaningfulness, it is of no value. Indeed, any act which is done without the right intention is valueless. It has no importance either in the eyes of people or in the eyes of God.
An act is worthy of esteem only when it is pure in intention. Any act done without the right intention is impure in nature.
Source: The Spirit of Islam
As per the creation plan of God, utmost importance is given to intentions. The Prophet said:
“Whoever comes to his carpet intending to stand for prayer at night, yet his eyes are overcome with sleep until morning, his intention is recorded for him and his sleep is charity for him from his Lord Almighty.” (Sunan al-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 1787)
Right intention is the moral purposiveness, which underlies all actions performed solely for God’s pleasure. One who acts on such feelings will be rewarded by God in the Hereafter.
Ill-intention, on the other hand, is a negative spur to worldly attainment. Ostensibly religious acts, if performed for worldly gain or public commendation, are in this sense ill intentioned. Any fame, honour or popularity, which ensues from an ill-intentioned act, is a hollow triumph and is looked upon by the Almighty with extreme disfavour.
Intention is rooted in man’s inner thinking and feelings. A common man is unable to penetrate the inner recesses of a person’s mind but God knows full well what a man’s thought processes and feelings are. People can be deluded by appearances, but God has complete knowledge of everything. He will deal with people according to His knowledge and will reward everyone exactly as he or she deserves.
Things are of value only when they are pure, without any adulteration. An act done with right intention is a pure act, and an act performed without right intention is an impure act.
Source: Spirit of Islam May 2019
Islam attaches the utmost importance to intentions (niyyah). Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of God said, “Verily, deeds are only with intentions, and every person will have only what they intended. Whoever emigrated to God and His Messenger, his emigration is for God and His Messenger. Whoever emigrated to get something in the world or to marry a woman, his emigration is for that to which he emigrated.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 54, Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1907)
No action is acceptable to God purely on the basis of its outer appearance. He accepts only such actions as are performed with proper intention, and rejects those performed with ill intention. Right intention is the moral purposiveness, which underlies all actions performed solely for God’s pleasure. One who acts on such feelings will be rewarded by God in the Hereafter.
Abdullah, the son of, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said to his father one day, “O father, instruct me.” Ahmad, may God be pleased with him, said, “O my son, have a good intention. You will always be good as long as you intend good.” (Al-Adab al-Shar’iyah by Ibn Muflih 1/104)
Source: Principles of Islam
