On the authority of the Commander of the Believers, Abū Ḥafṣ ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
“Actions are only by intentions, and each person shall have what he intended. So whoever’s migration was for Allah and His Messenger, then his migration was for Allah and His Messenger; and whoever’s migration was for some worldly gain or a woman to marry, then his migration was for what he migrated for.”
This noble ḥadīth, with which Imam al-Nawawī began his Forty Ḥadīths collection, is not merely words to be recited—it is a great principle upon which all deeds revolve. It is the foundation of intention, the basis of acceptance, and the scale by which actions are weighed between sincerity and showing off.
The first thing to note is that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Actions are only by intentions,” meaning that every action not based on a righteous intention is null and void in the sight of Allah—even if it appears to be a great act of worship. How many deeds that seem grand in the eyes of people are worth nothing to Allah? And how many small, hidden acts are elevated in rank because they stem from a sincere heart and pure intention?
Intention is not something spoken aloud, but a secret between the servant and his Lord, unseen by anyone else. That is why it is the true measure of virtue and the ultimate criterion for whether an action is accepted or rejected. A person may pray, fast, or give charity, but Allah does not look at outward form—He looks at the heart. He examines whether the deed was for His sake or for the praise of others. Was it done from a sincere soul or a heart chasing the world?
Then the Prophet ﷺ explains in the rest of the ḥadīth how intention changes the nature of a deed. Migration (hijrah), for example—one of the greatest acts, involving sacrifice of life and wealth—can be for Allah, in which case it is rewarded; or it can be for worldly gain or marriage, in which case it becomes a mere relocation with no value before Allah. This shows us how intention can elevate a deed or ruin it—how it can transform a habit into an act of worship or a worship into mere hypocrisy. Whoever makes wudū’ with the intention of purification and obedience, his wudū’ becomes worship. Whoever eats with the intention of gaining strength for worship, his eating becomes worship. Whoever speaks with the intention of bringing about reconciliation, Allah rewards him—even if his effort fails.
That’s why the scholars said: intention is the soul of action. Without the soul, the body is dead; likewise, without intention, the deed is dead. Sincerity in intention is the hardest struggle for the soul, because the soul loves recognition, praise, and wants to see its impact in the eyes of people. But the true believer fights his ego, hides his intentions, purifies his heart, and says secretly:
“O Allah, make all of my deeds sincerely for Your noble face, with no share in them for anyone else.”
A person who fasts one day sincerely for Allah may surpass one who fasts the entire year showing off. Someone who gives just one dirham sincerely may be better than someone who spends a thousand dinars for attention. This is the secret that terrifies the sincere believers and makes them constantly question themselves about every act: Did I do it for Allah? Or for myself? Was I seeking Allah’s face? Or worldly benefits?
Ibn al-Mubārak said: “A small deed may be magnified by intention, and a great deed may be diminished by intention.” Deeds are not measured by how many or how hard they are, but by what was present in the heart at the moment of action. How many servants have wept in the depths of the night, unseen by anyone, and Allah forgave them completely? And how many stood in gatherings speaking about Allah, yet had hypocrisy in their hearts and earned nothing from Allah? We often forget to purify our intentions in everything: in studies, in work, in marriage, in friendships, even in leisure. If your intention in resting is to rejuvenate yourself for worship, it becomes an act of devotion; otherwise, it’s a waste.
This ḥadīth is from the comprehensive statements (jawāmiʿ al-kalim), a major principle of Islam. The scholars unanimously agreed on its authenticity and that it applies to every branch of the religion. Imām al-Shāfiʿī said: “This ḥadīth enters into seventy chapters of fiqh.” Imām Aḥmad said: “The foundations of Islam are built upon three ḥadīths—the first of them is this one.” It was narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim, and it is the first ḥadīth in their Ṣaḥīḥ collections and the first one taught to students of knowledge.
So let us make sincerity the foundation of all our words and actions, and strive to purify our hearts and intentions, for Allah only accepts that which is done solely for Him. Every time you begin a deed, ask yourself: Who am I doing this for? Is it truly for Allah?
If you find hypocrisy, reject it. If you find Allah, then turn to Him with your whole heart and say:
“O Allah, make my intention pure for You, free from showing off and reputation, with no share for anyone else in it.”