If a person does a good deed without intention, will he be rewarded for it, such as removing harm from the path or shaking hands?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, will a Muslim be rewarded if he does deeds without intention, such as removing harm from the path, shaking hands, using the miswak, and attending gatherings of dhikr, without the intention of seeking reward from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)?
The Shaykh : Good deeds are of two types:
The first type: deeds that are necessary and whose benefit does not extend to others. If a person does these with intention, he is rewarded, even if his intention is merely to fulfill the obligatory duty. That is, even if he does not intend to seek reward, but intends to perform the obligation, he is rewarded.
The second type: acts of worship that are extensive and from which others benefit. For these, he is rewarded for the benefit others derive from them, even if he did not have an intention when performing them. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us: Even though he might plant without intending this intention, but as long as there is benefit for people, he has a reward for it. And this is indicated by the saying of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:114] This is if a person does it even just for the sake of reconciliation without intending reward. Then He said: [An-Nisa 4:114]: This is an addition to the goodness that Allah mentioned in the beginning of the verse.
So, removing harm from the path has an extensive benefit, so a person is rewarded for it even if he did not have an intention during this removal. Yes.
The Shaykh : Good deeds are of two types:
The first type: deeds that are necessary and whose benefit does not extend to others. If a person does these with intention, he is rewarded, even if his intention is merely to fulfill the obligatory duty. That is, even if he does not intend to seek reward, but intends to perform the obligation, he is rewarded.
The second type: acts of worship that are extensive and from which others benefit. For these, he is rewarded for the benefit others derive from them, even if he did not have an intention when performing them. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us:
That whoever plants a crop or plants a tree, and an animal or something eats from it, then he has a reward for that.
أن من زرع زرعا أو غرس شجرة فأصاب منها حيوان أو شيء فإن له بذلك أجرًاNo good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people
لا خَيْرَ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِنْ نَجْوَاهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلاحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِAnd whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allah - then We are going to give him a great reward.
وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْراً عَظِيماًSo, removing harm from the path has an extensive benefit, so a person is rewarded for it even if he did not have an intention during this removal. Yes.