Chapter 1: Obligation of Having a True and Sincere Intention for Every Action —by Imām Abu Ismā’īl Al-Harawi (died 481H)

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation. May the peace and blessing be upon our noble Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions and all those who follow him exactly until the establishment of the Hour.

These are chapters from Shaikhul-Islām Abu Ismā’īl Al-Harawī’s, “The Book Of Forty Narrations In The Evidences Of Tawhīd” (Born 396H and died 481H may Allah’s mercy be upon him). This compilation is an amazing series of narrations in the establishment of the Tawhīd of Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, especially in the arena of the Names and Attributes that has left the Jahmiyyah and their offspring such as the Ashā’irah and Māturīdīs dumbstruck just as Allāh has said:

وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا

“And say: ‘The Truth has come and falsehood has been vanquished. Surely! Falsehood is ever bound to be vanquished.’” (Al-Isrā 17:81)

Chapter 1: Obligation of Having a True and Sincere Intention for Every Action

Abu Ismā’īl Al-Harawī (481H) with his chain of narration to ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) that Allah’s Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:

إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّةِ وَإِنَّمَا لاِمْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى

“Indeed actions are based on intentions, and for each person, there is only the reward for what he intended.” (End)

Complete hadeeth states:

إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّةِ وَإِنَّمَا لاِمْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ لِدُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ

“Indeed actions are based on intentions, and for each person, there is only the reward for 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 a worldly reason or to marry a woman, then his migration was for whatever he migrated for.”

Reported by Al-Bukhāri, nos. 1, 54, 2529, 5070, 3898… Muslim, nos. 155, Abu Dawūd, no. 2201, and others.

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