Does the hadith (Actions are only by intentions) apply to all actions?

Question : You mentioned that the hadith "Actions are only by intentions" is a general principle. Does this mean it applies to all actions without being specified by a particular rule?

Answer : Yes, this applies to all actions. However, for some actions, the intention is a condition for their validity, while for others, the intention to seek reward is a condition for the reward, not for the validity. For example, if a person buys and sells without an intention, meaning he does not intend trade and does not intend to draw near to Allah, the sale and purchase are valid. But he will not be rewarded unless he intends good in his buying and selling, such as buying water to perform wudu with, or buying a garment to cover his awrah, and the like. So, the intention is for validating the action, as we mentioned previously, and the intention is for the reward and the wage for it. Not every action requires an intention in terms of validity, but in terms of reward, every action requires an intention. Therefore, if a person wears a garment and prays in it without intending to purify it for prayer, his prayer is valid, but he will not be rewarded for it unless he intends to obey the command of Allah where He says .