Ikhlaas
First thing first!
HADITH
عن أمير المؤمنين أبي حفص عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول:
"إنما الأعمال بالنيات وإنما لكل امريء ما نوى, فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله ومن كانت هجرته لدنيا يصيبها أو امرأة ينكحها فهجرته إلى ما هاجر إليه" متفق عليه"
It is narrated on the authority of Amirul Mu'minin, Abu Hafs 'Umar bin al-Khattab (radiyAllaahu 'anhu) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:
"The reward of actions depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.
Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was for Allah and His Messenger, his migration was for Allah and His Messenger, and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take a woman in marriage, his migration was for that for which he migrated."
[Al-Bukhaaree #1]
Regarding this hadith, Shaykh Saalih al-Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) mentioned the following explanation in the book titled "Explanatory Notes on Imaam an-Nawawwee's 40 Ahaadeeth" published by Tarbiyyah Publishing (book can be purchased here).
This hadith is a great foundation regarding the actions of the heart due to the intentions stemming from the actions of the heart. The scholars have said: This hadith is half of worship because it is the scale of the inward actions. As well, the hadith of 'Aa'ishah (radiyAllaahu 'anha)
مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ
"Whoever innovates into this affairs of ours what which is not from it shall have it rejected" [Al-Bukhaaree #2697]
And in another wording,
مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلاً لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ
"Whoever does an action that is not from this affair of ours shall have it rejected." [Muslim #1718b]
Meaning: there is no action except that is has an intention. That is because it impossible for any person that has intellect and the ability of choice to perform an action without an intention. Even some of the scholars have said, "If Allaah were to burden us with actions without intentions, then there would be from responsibility that which no one could bear"
Branching from this benefit: The refutation upon those who have been whispered to, who do actions repeatedly, a number of times, and then the Shaytaan (Satan) whispers to them saying, "you did not have an intention." We say to them, "No. It is impossible, ever, to do an action without an intention, so lessen the burden on yourselves and leave off these whispers
Benefits:
A person is rewarded, punished, or prohibited based upon his intention. This is due to the statement of the Prophet ﷺ,
فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
"Thus he whose migration was for Allaah and His Messenger, his migration was for Allaah and His Messenger."Actions, as well, are based upon what they lead to. Therefore, something that is Mubaah (permissible) in its origin can become obedience when a person intends well; for example, when a person intends in this eating and drinking piety upon obedience to Allaah. And due to this the Prophet ﷺ said,
تَسَحَّرُوا فَإِنَّ فِي السَّحُورِ بَرَكَةً
Take Suhoor (i.e the small meal eaten before Fajr when fasting) for there is blessing in the Suhoor." [Al-Bukhaaree #1923 & Muslim #1095]It is appropriate for the teacher to strike examples that clarify the verdict. Due to this, the Prophet ﷺ struck the example of migration (Hijrah: to leave the land of Shirk to the land of Islaam). He clarified that migration (Hijrah) is one action that a person can be rewarded for or obtain a sin. Thus, the one who migrates for Allaah and His Messenger is rewarded and the one who migrates to achieve some worldly benefit or to take a woman in marriage is prevented from this reward
The Intention is a Mount (Vehicle) | Shaykh Saleh al-Usaymi حفظه الله
Sources:
Explanatory notes on Imaam an-Nawawwee's 40 Ahaadeeth, published by Tarbiyyah publishing
Al-Usaymi, S. (2021, November 9). The intention is a mount (vehicle): Shaykh Saleh Al-Usaymi حفظه الله. YouTube. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://youtu.be/7JR0F68SaX4