Hadith of the Week: Actions Are by Intentions
Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will have what they intended.
Grading: Sahih, according to Reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
Every Monday we share one hadith with its source, grading and a short reflection.
The hadith (meaning)
Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will have what they intended. Whoever migrated for Allah and His Messenger, their migration is for Allah and His Messenger. Whoever migrated for worldly gain or to marry a woman, their migration is for that which they migrated.
Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab. The text above gives the meaning in English.
Reflection
- Check your intention before you start: study, work, charity.
- Renew your intention during the day: it can drift.
- A small deed with a sincere intention can outweigh a large show.
Source and grading
Reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim; it is the first hadith in an-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith.