Ibn_hassan
Servant of Allah
Ibn Mas'ud –(radiallaahu 'anhu) – would advise his students, "If your intention is one of these three, do not seek knowledge: To shame the ignorant, or to argue with the Fuqahaa' (scholars), or to cause people to turn their faces in your direction. Intend with your actions and words that which is with Allaah, for indeed that which is with Allaah shall remain and everything else shall perish."
Ameerul-Mu’mineen, Abi Hafs (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that: “The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: (The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of Allaah and His Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) is for the sake of Allaah and His Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) ; and the emigration of one who emigrates for gaining a worldly advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he has emigrated.” [Sahih Muslim, Book 020, Number 4692]
The subject of the hadeeth is making clear the rank of the intention vis-a-vis the actions. This is a great and comprehensive hadeeth, making clear that the intention is comprehensive, covering all actions such that there is no action without intention. And therefore, the actions correctness or corruption, the reward upon it or the punishment, is dependant upon the intention. And each person shall have but that which he intended, whether it is a noble objective or a lowly, despicable one.
The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), made that clear in order to incite the doer to aim high in his intention seeking Allaah’s Face and the Final Abode and to keep away from the lowly intentions and base ranks. So if the intention is correct, intending the Face of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa), then it is acceptable and if otherwise then it will not be (acceptable) because Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa) is Most Sufficient and in no need of partners.
Then the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) gave a similitude in migration so that it may be reference for the rest of actions. So those who migrate have different intentions and thus the reward will vary to a great extent, even though the action is one (and that is the migration). So whoever migrates to Allaah and His Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), seeking the reward of Allaah and the victory for the Deen and giving help to the Deen then he is the sincere Muhaajir (immigrant), who attained in his intention the highest and most noble objectives. And whoever migrates seeking this lowly life and its vanishing enjoyments is the one who went base in his intention and therefore of the Hereafter he shall have no share. The one who migrates from the land of shirk seeking the reward of Allaah and the protection of His Deen and the support of the Deen and seeking to learn the Shari’ah, so his hijrah (migration) is fee sabeelillaah and Allaah will keep him steadfast on that.
And the intention distinguishes the worship from the habit. Take for example al-ghusl (taking a bath): If it is done intending to lift the janabah (the sexual defilement) then it is ‘Ibaadah (worship). And if it is done for cleansing or to cool off then it is 'aadah (a habit).
Ameerul-Mu’mineen, Abi Hafs (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that: “The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: (The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of Allaah and His Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) is for the sake of Allaah and His Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) ; and the emigration of one who emigrates for gaining a worldly advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he has emigrated.” [Sahih Muslim, Book 020, Number 4692]
The subject of the hadeeth is making clear the rank of the intention vis-a-vis the actions. This is a great and comprehensive hadeeth, making clear that the intention is comprehensive, covering all actions such that there is no action without intention. And therefore, the actions correctness or corruption, the reward upon it or the punishment, is dependant upon the intention. And each person shall have but that which he intended, whether it is a noble objective or a lowly, despicable one.
The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), made that clear in order to incite the doer to aim high in his intention seeking Allaah’s Face and the Final Abode and to keep away from the lowly intentions and base ranks. So if the intention is correct, intending the Face of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa), then it is acceptable and if otherwise then it will not be (acceptable) because Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa) is Most Sufficient and in no need of partners.
Then the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) gave a similitude in migration so that it may be reference for the rest of actions. So those who migrate have different intentions and thus the reward will vary to a great extent, even though the action is one (and that is the migration). So whoever migrates to Allaah and His Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), seeking the reward of Allaah and the victory for the Deen and giving help to the Deen then he is the sincere Muhaajir (immigrant), who attained in his intention the highest and most noble objectives. And whoever migrates seeking this lowly life and its vanishing enjoyments is the one who went base in his intention and therefore of the Hereafter he shall have no share. The one who migrates from the land of shirk seeking the reward of Allaah and the protection of His Deen and the support of the Deen and seeking to learn the Shari’ah, so his hijrah (migration) is fee sabeelillaah and Allaah will keep him steadfast on that.
And the intention distinguishes the worship from the habit. Take for example al-ghusl (taking a bath): If it is done intending to lift the janabah (the sexual defilement) then it is ‘Ibaadah (worship). And if it is done for cleansing or to cool off then it is 'aadah (a habit).