Lecture on Hadith: Actions are by Intentions

Key Hadith and Explanation

• Narrator: Ameer al-Mu'minin Abi Hafs, Omar ibn al-Khattab
• Source: Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him
• Core Message: Actions are judged by intentions.
  • Each individual is rewarded according to their true intentions.
  • Migration (hijrah) to Allah and His Messenger yields spiritual reward.
  • Migration for worldly purposes leads to worldly outcomes.

Importance of Intention (Ikhlas)

• Intention's Role:
  • Not just outward actions matter, intentions play a critical role.
  • Deeds of the heart often outweigh physical actions.
• Sincerity (Ikhlas):
  • Defined as seeking Allah's pleasure, not people’s approval.

Indicators of Sincerity (Ikhlas)

• Avoiding Leadership: Prefers less visible roles to avoid showing-off.
• Self-Reflection: Acknowledges personal shortcomings.
• Fear of Non-Acceptance: Good deeds are performed with awareness they might not be accepted.
• Allah's Pleasure vs. People's Approval: Prioritizes what pleases Allah over what pleases people.
• Resilience: Not discouraged by obstacles.
• Collective Joy: Celebrates others' contributions to Islamic causes.

Balancing Fear and Action

• Continued Action:
  • Do not cease actions due to fear of mixed intentions. Continue actions while refining intentions.
• Value of Actions:
  • Actions have intrinsic value even if intentions are flawed.
• Prophetic Guidance:
  • Acts of kindness, like helping a dog, can lead to forgiveness.

Situations of Secondary Intent

1. Avoiding Prohibitions:
   • Avoiding haram is mandatory regardless of intention.
2. Collective Islamic Work:
   • Obedience to the collective mission supersedes personal intention.

Conclusion

• Perfect Actions: Require sound intention and proper execution.
• Prayer: Seek Allah's help for sincerity in actions and words.

References

• Quranic Reference: "We turned to what they have done of deeds and made them as dust dispersed."
• Scholars' Contributions: Indicators compiled by Sheikh Al-Qaradawi on evaluating sincerity.

Final Thoughts

• Aim for sincerity in all actions, balancing intention with action.
• Acknowledge the importance of both internal and external dimensions of deeds.