33/45. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1907a — Actions Are Judged by Intention
The words of the prophets saws: "Deeds are but with intentions" which includes fighting and other deeds
Actions Are Judged by Intentions: The Hadith About Niyyah
Sahih Muslim : 1907a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1907a
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ، بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّةِ وَإِنَّمَا لاِمْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ لِدُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ " .
'Umar bin Al-Khattab Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: (The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ); and the emigration of one who emigrates for gaining a worldly advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he has emigrated.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1907aIn-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 222USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4692
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1907a
This is the famous hadith about intention: actions depend on the intention behind them, and a person receives only what he intended. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gives the example of emigration. If someone emigrates for Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, then his emigration is for Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. If someone emigrates for a worldly benefit or to marry a woman, then his emigration is for what he intended. The teaching is simple and deep: the same outward action can carry different meanings because the heart is different. For anyone searching for innamal amalu binniyat, this Hadith shows that intention is not a small detail; it shapes the value of the deed.
What we learn from this hadith
- Actions are tied to the intention behind them.
- A person receives according to what he intended.
- The same action can have different value based on its purpose.
- Worldly aims are not the same as doing an act for Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم.
