What is the meaning of the saying of some people, "The intention of the believer is better than his deed"?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
O Shaykh, may Allah forgive you, what is the meaning of the saying of some people: "The intention of the believer is better than his deed"?
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The questioner : What does it mean?
The Shaykh : It means that the intention may attain what the deed does not attain. For example, a man may be unable to perform an act of obedience, but he wishes to attain this act of obedience and intends it. This may be better than the deed. For this reason, it came in the hadith:Riyad as-Salihin 1341.
And it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:.
The questioner : The meaning of this authentic hadith.
The Shaykh : Its meaning is correct, but not absolutely.
The questioner : What is excluded from it?
The Shaykh : It is excluded when a person is capable of the deed, capable of the deed, but does not do it. And we do not say: "This man's intention is better than his deed." Because if we said that, a person would remain able to perform obedience, not perform the obedience, and say: "The intention is better than the deed."
O Shaykh, may Allah forgive you, what is the meaning of the saying of some people: "The intention of the believer is better than his deed"?
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The questioner : What does it mean?
The Shaykh : It means that the intention may attain what the deed does not attain. For example, a man may be unable to perform an act of obedience, but he wishes to attain this act of obedience and intends it. This may be better than the deed. For this reason, it came in the hadith:
He who dies without having fought in the Cause of Allah or without having thought of doing so, will die with one characteristic of hypocrisy in him.
من لم يغز ولم يحدث نفسه بالغزو مات على شعبة من النفاقAnd it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Indeed, if a man wishes for martyrdom, he attains the rank of the martyrs, even if he dies on his bed.
إن الرجل إذا تمنى الشهادة ينال منزلة الشهداء وإن مات على فراشهThe questioner : The meaning of this authentic hadith.
The Shaykh : Its meaning is correct, but not absolutely.
The questioner : What is excluded from it?
The Shaykh : It is excluded when a person is capable of the deed, capable of the deed, but does not do it. And we do not say: "This man's intention is better than his deed." Because if we said that, a person would remain able to perform obedience, not perform the obedience, and say: "The intention is better than the deed."