Explanation of the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Actions are only by intentions.”

The Shaykh : The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) explained this verse in the hadith of migration . Many people do not understand the meaning of “actions are only by intentions.” Let us pause here on this phrase. They assume that if a Muslim performs an unsound deed but his intention is sound, his unsound deed becomes sound on the claim that his intention is sound. This is an error, and it is an interpretation of the words of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) contrary to how he interpreted them in the context of the completion of his hadith. The precise summary of the intended meaning of the hadith is: “Sound actions are only by sound intentions.” Sound actions are only by sound intentions. That is, the “al” in “actions” here is the article of specification. Sometimes the “al” is for specification of a known entity, and sometimes it is for comprehensiveness and inclusion of a known entity, meaning a specific genus. This is what is intended in this hadith. That is, sound actions. But when the “al” is for comprehensiveness and inclusion, the meaning becomes: “All actions, every action, are only by sound intentions.” Did the Messenger (peace be upon him) intend this second meaning in this authentic hadith? The answer is: No. The correct meaning, which I am going around and around to explain so that you have a precise and correct understanding of this hadith, and so that you become callers to beneficial knowledge that leads, consequently, to sound action, is that an action cannot be sound except with knowledge. Part of the knowledge here is that you remember with us that “actions” here does not mean all actions, whether prescribed or not prescribed, whether forbidden or not forbidden. It means only sound actions. When the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: , he meant: “Sound actions are only by sound intentions.” If one of these two conditions is lacking, as previously explained in full, the action is not sound. We gave you an example: the story of the group who stood in prayer the entire night. It is not worship. Why? Because it is contrary to the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), as the Lady Aisha said: ; that is, in its entirety. I did not know, and she is the most knowledgeable of people regarding his standing in prayer (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), because she lived with him (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). So, sound actions are only by sound intentions. Among the sound actions is migration. A Muslim may migrate from his land for many, many purposes. He may migrate from his land to fight the disbelieving enemy in the path of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). He may migrate from his land to move to a land that is better than his land in knowledge, conduct, pleasantness of life, and the like. So, migration here has a broad and comprehensive meaning, including all types of migration. Even if a Muslim migrates from a sound land to a sound land like it, but the difference is that the land he migrated to has scholars that are not found in the land where he lives and resides, this is considered a migrant. So, migration is for many, many purposes, and migration is undoubtedly among the sound actions. But it must be accompanied by this migration, which is one of the acts of worship, and I have exemplified for you types of migration, for it to be acceptable to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). It must be accompanied by sincerity to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in this migration. If the migration is a sound deed, but he migrated for what reason? The answer came in the context of the hadith: ; that is, to the pleasure of Allah and following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). Following the Messenger of Allah during his lifetime or following his Sunnah after his death. So, if his migration is to... that is, his action at that time is not sound, but rather unsound, meaning not acceptable. First, then it turns against him as a burden instead of being recorded for him as reward and recompense. This is what I wanted to remind you of in these few minutes. In summary: You must follow the Sunnah and know it first, so that you do not fall into lacking the first condition, which is that it be in accordance with the Sunnah. Second: that you be sincere in all your worship to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), so that we may be, if Allah wills, among those whose deeds are accepted. We ask Allah to make us all successful in following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and being sincere in it.

The questioner : Our teacher, Shaykh Ali, will continue, because our Shaykh is busy and has an appointment. So, please, our teacher, Shaykh Ali, just for a few minutes, because there is some candy to be distributed to them.

The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good, and peace be upon you.

The questioner : Advice... May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.