Hadith Number 1 from the Forty Hadith of Imam An-Nawawi
“Actions Are Judged by Intentions”
Introduction
Islam places great importance on the condition of the heart and the sincerity behind every action. One of the most famous and foundational hadiths in Islam is the first hadith in the Forty Hadith collection of Imam An-Nawawi. This hadith teaches that actions are judged according to intentions, and it serves as a guiding principle for all aspects of a Muslim’s life.
Scholars throughout Islamic history have considered this hadith to be among the greatest and most comprehensive sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ because it explains the foundation of sincerity, worship, and acceptance of deeds.
The Full Hadith in Arabic
عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَبِي حَفْصٍ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ:
«إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى، فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ لِدُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ يَنْكِحُهَا فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ»
English Translation
On the authority of the Commander of the Believers, Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
“Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will have only what they 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 worldly gain or for a woman to marry, then his migration was for whatever he migrated for.”
Recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
The Narrator of the Hadith
The narrator of this hadith is the noble Companion:
Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه
was one of the greatest companions of the Prophet ﷺ and the second Caliph of Islam. He was known for his justice, strength of faith, wisdom, and dedication to Islam.
He narrated many authentic hadiths and played a major role in preserving and spreading Islamic teachings.
The Compiler of the Forty Hadith
The compiler of this famous collection is:
Imam An-Nawawi رحمه الله
was a great Islamic scholar, jurist, and hadith expert. He compiled the Forty Hadith to gather essential teachings of Islam into one concise collection.
His work remains among the most studied hadith collections in the Muslim world.
The Meaning of Intention (Niyyah) in Islam
What is Niyyah?
Niyyah means intention or purpose in the heart. In Islam, it refers to the reason why a person performs an action.
A Muslim’s actions are not judged merely by outward appearance. Rather, Allah looks at the sincerity and purpose behind those actions.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but He looks at your hearts and deeds.”
Recorded in Sahih Muslim.
Why Intention Is So Important
This hadith teaches that intention is the foundation of all deeds. A good action without sincerity may not be accepted, while even ordinary daily activities can become acts of worship with the correct intention.
Importance of Sincerity in Worship
Acts of worship must be performed sincerely for Allah alone, including:
Prayer (Salah)
Fasting
Charity
Hajj
Recitation of the Qur’an
Seeking knowledge
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion…”
Surah Al-Bayyinah (98:5)
Sincerity is known in Arabic as Ikhlas, which means performing deeds solely for Allah without seeking praise, status, or worldly recognition.
Actions Are Accepted According to Intentions
This hadith explains that deeds may appear identical outwardly, yet differ greatly in reward due to intention.
Examples
Example 1: Charity
Two people may donate the same amount of money.
One gives sincerely for Allah’s pleasure.
The other gives to impress people.
Outwardly the action is the same, but spiritually they are completely different.
Example 2: Seeking Knowledge
A person may study Islam:
To please Allah and benefit people.
Or to become famous and admired.
The reward depends upon the intention.
Example 3: Work and Earning Money
A Muslim who works to provide halal sustenance for family and avoid begging can be rewarded for ordinary work if the intention is righteous.
Good Intentions and Bad Intentions
Examples of Good Intentions
Worshipping Allah sincerely
Helping others for Allah’s sake
Seeking knowledge to benefit people
Working honestly to support family
Teaching Islam sincerely
Visiting relatives to maintain ties
Examples of Bad Intentions
Showing off to people
Seeking praise or fame
Performing worship for reputation
Giving charity to impress others
Seeking religious knowledge for status
Pretending to be righteous
Warning Against Showing Off (Riya)
One of the greatest dangers to sincerity is Riya, which means showing off in worship or good deeds.
A person may pray, give charity, or recite Qur’an so that others praise them rather than seeking Allah’s pleasure.
The Prophet ﷺ warned against this hidden danger.
He ﷺ said:
“The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk.”
The companions asked: “What is minor shirk?”
He replied:
“Showing off.”
Authenticated by scholars from Musnad Ahmad.
Qur’anic Teachings About Sincerity
The Qur’an repeatedly commands believers to worship Allah sincerely.
Allah says:
“Say: Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
Surah Al-An‘am (6:162)
And Allah says:
“Whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.”
Surah Al-Kahf (18:110)
These verses emphasise that righteous deeds must be accompanied by sincere worship.
The Example of Migration in the Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ mentioned migration (Hijrah) to explain how intentions affect deeds.
During the early days of Islam, Muslims migrated from Makkah to Madinah for the sake of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
However, some people migrated for worldly reasons, such as business or marriage.
Though the outward action was the same, the reward differed because the intentions differed.
This demonstrates that Allah judges the inner purpose behind actions.
How This Hadith Applies to Daily Life
This hadith is not limited to acts of worship. It applies to every part of life.
1. Worship
A Muslim should pray, fast, and worship solely for Allah.
2. Work and Employment
Working honestly to earn halal income and support one’s family can become an act of worship with sincere intention.
3. Seeking Knowledge
Students should seek knowledge to gain closeness to Allah and benefit humanity, not merely for pride or status.
4. Charity
Helping others should be done sincerely without expecting praise or recognition.
5. Marriage and Relationships
Marriage can become an act of worship when done to preserve chastity, build a righteous family, and obey Allah.
6. Social Media and Public Deeds
Muslims should be careful not to seek attention through religious actions online. The heart should constantly be checked for sincerity.
Lessons Scholars Derived from This Hadith
Islamic scholars derived many important lessons from this hadith.
Major Lessons Include:
1. Intention Is Essential
No act of worship is valid without intention.
2. Deeds Depend on the Heart
The condition of the heart affects the value of actions.
3. Sincerity Is Required
Allah accepts only deeds done sincerely for Him.
4. Ordinary Actions Can Become Worship
Daily activities become rewarding when accompanied by righteous intentions.
5. Riya Destroys Deeds
Showing off can ruin the reward of good actions.
6. People Are Rewarded According to Their Intentions
Even if outcomes differ, sincere intentions are rewarded by Allah.
Spiritual Benefits of Sincerity
Sincerity brings immense spiritual benefits to the believer.
Benefits Include:
Closeness to Allah
Purification of the heart
Increased humility
Consistency in worship
Inner peace and tranquillity
Greater reward from Allah
Protection from hypocrisy
Acceptance of deeds
A sincere believer seeks Allah’s pleasure rather than people’s praise.
Practical Ways to Purify Intentions
Purifying intention is a lifelong effort.
Helpful Steps Include:
1. Remember Allah Constantly
Frequent remembrance softens the heart and renews sincerity.
2. Learn About Ikhlas
Studying sincerity helps a Muslim recognise hidden forms of showing off.
3. Hide Good Deeds
Perform some acts of worship privately when possible.
4. Make Dua for Sincerity
Ask Allah to purify the heart and protect from hypocrisy.
5. Reflect Before Acting
Ask yourself:
Why am I doing this?
Am I seeking Allah’s pleasure?
6. Avoid Excessive Love of Praise
Do not become attached to people’s compliments.
7. Renew Intentions Regularly
A person should constantly renew intention during worship and daily activities.
Statements of Scholars About This Hadith
Many scholars considered this hadith one of the foundations of Islam.
Imam Ash-Shafi‘i رحمه الله said:
“This hadith enters into seventy chapters of knowledge.”
Imam Ahmad رحمه الله said:
“The foundations of Islam revolve around three hadiths,” and he included this hadith among them.
This demonstrates the enormous importance of sincerity and intention in Islam.
Conclusion
Hadith Number 1 of the Forty Hadith of Imam An-Nawawi teaches one of the greatest principles in Islam: actions are judged according to intentions.
A deed that appears small may become enormous in reward through sincerity, while a deed that appears great may become worthless due to showing off or corrupt intentions.
A Muslim should constantly examine the heart, renew intentions, and strive to worship Allah sincerely in every aspect of life.
True success lies not merely in performing actions, but in performing them purely for the sake of Allah.
May Allah grant us sincerity in our worship, words, intentions, and deeds, and may He accept our actions solely for His pleasure. Ameen.
