Hadeeth One (explanation continued) - part 3
From the translation of this hadeeth we know that every individual will receive that which he has intended ( وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى). It is a repetition of the first part of the hadeeth to place emphasis on the beginning of the hadeeth, 'Actions are only by intentions'. If a person intended good, then he will definitely get good. However, Imam ibn Rajab says that it is not repetition, rather the first sentence indicates that the goodness of an act, and the evil/corruption of an act is based on one's intention. The second part 'وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى' indicates that the reward of the doer of the action is according to his good intention or his punishment is according to his bad intention.
These clauses of the hadeeth are all from the جوامع الكلم 'comprehensive statements'. This is whereby the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم was given the unique quality of gathering oceans of knowledge in brief, short statements and texts.
The next part of the hadeeth looks at Hijrah. 'Whoever's emigration is for Allah and His Messenger, then his emigration is for Allah and His Messenger. Whoever's emigration is for some worldly gain which he can acquire or a woman he will marry, then his emigration is for that which he emigrates'.
These are two examples of هجره. هجره means emigration and according to many scholars هجره (linguistically) means to leave behind and abstain. The meaning taken here is emigration.
One who emigrates for Allah and his Messenger صلي الله عليه و سلم, for their sake, out of their love, in order to preserve; safeguard and protect deen for themselves and their offspring, then it is enough as a form of 'فخر' (honour) that you have gained that which you have intended. Meaning this is enough for you as a form of reward.
Then in comparison to he above, we have the one who emigrates without a sincere intention, for worldly gain and benefit. Examples are below:
A person goes to perform hajj for business transactions or to purchase abaya's. This is an example of doing an act for worldly gain as mentioned in the hadeeth.
Then we have a person who performs hajj of 'umrah to get married. Again this is an example of a wring intention. Some scholars say the سبب النزول/سبب الورود - the background of this hadeeth was regarding a man who proposed to a woman named Umme Qays (ام قيس). She said to this man, if you do not migrate then i will not marry you. So this man emigrated to marry this woman. Other 'Ulema say this was not the reason, nevertheless many refer to this man as 'مهاجر ام قيس' (Muhaajir Umma Qays). Ibn Rajab Al Hanbali says regrading this, that the man's hijrah was for what he intended. The act is such that it is not even worth mentioning again, in comparison to the emigration for Allah and his Messanger. The emigration for Allah and his Messenger was something worthy, hence it was repeated.
There are many practical benefits that can be derived from this hadeeth. The first is sincerity, we must ensure we have sincerity in everything that we do in all acts of worship.
Another thing we learn here is the juristic (فقهي) definition of intention: النية عمل القلب - Intention is an act of the heart. This is to the point that fuqaha say that if in you mind you have an incorrect intention, but in the heart you have a correct intention, then your act is still valid. However, if our heart were to have the wrong intention and our mind the correct one then that action would be deemed invalid. It is absolutely necessary that we learn the rulings pertaining to niyyah according to our madhab.
Lastly, the opposite to sincerity is ostentation (doing things for show), we must ensure we stop doing acts for ostentation and replace it with acts done with sincerity.