40 Ahadith An-Nawwawi: Intentions (Hadith One)

I am currently attending the AlMaghrib Sacred Scrolls seminar in Birmingham with QFawz. We are talking about and going through in depth meaning behind the most important ahadith in Imaam An-Nawwawis 40-Ahadith. I was amazed at the depth of the first ahadith alone on intentions. We spent at least half a day on the one ahadith. 


Moreover it really makes you think. I want to share this with everyone and inshAllah maybe we can all reflect on the underlying message of this hadith and why its so important so here goes: 

It is narrated on the authority of Amirul Mu'minin, Abu Hafs 'Umar bin al-Khattab, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, say:

"Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated."

[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Lets start with why Imaam An Nawwawi began his book with this ahadith?

1) The main reason was that he was a scholar who gave value to tradition. The first hadith by Imaam Bukhaari started with this ahadith and therefore Imaam An Nawwawi was simply following tradition.

2) Abdur Rahman Ibn Mahdi stated that when one of you compile a hadith start with this ahadith. So Imaam An Nawwawi hated not to fulfil the request of his predecessors. 

3) The hadith revolves around intention. Before you embark on any deed you should check your intention and therefore this would be a reminder to anyone who was reading this book that check your intentions before doing so.

There is a lot of importance attached to the weight of this hadith aswell as it has been narrated that this hadith consists of 1/2 of knowledge with a righteous intention and the other 1/2 is doing the act itself. 

In another hadith related by Imaam Ahmed, he stated that religion is based on 3 hadith. 

1/3 = this hadith based on intention

2/3 = hadith 5 based on knowing what the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam did and opposed

3/3 = hadith 4 based on learning that which is halaal and haraam within the deen

The intention plays two roles:

1) distinguish who or what the action is done for

2) differentiate between different acts of worship that are similar to one another

Once you perfect your level of intention, you differentiate yourself from others. 

Its all about turning the everyday mundane acts into acts of ibaadah...even if it is sleeping or eating to gain rest or strength so that you CAN worship Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala. 

Its also important to remember that your intention changes constantly before, during and after an act and therefore it must be consistently renewed.