This hadith talks about the following themes:
- Journey for the sake of seeking knowledge
- Wiping over leather socks and regular socks
- A person is with those whom he loves

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Niyyah: Intention

Intention is derived from the heart. It originates in the heart. Furthermore, pronouncing it at the start of every act is not from the Sunnah. It was never reported that the Prophet (pbuh) or any of his companions pronounced their intention before embarking on any act of worship. Because of that, some scholars went as far as calling such as a bid'ah: an innovation in the religion.

Allah (ta'ala) is Aware of what is concealed in the heart. No matter is deemed secret from him.

Allah says: "Say (O Muhammad): Whether you conceal what is in the your hearts or disclose it, Allah is aware of it." (2:29)

All matters of worship must be commenced upon pure intention. That is to intend such act is only done for the sake of pleasing Allah (ta'ala).
Allah says: "They were not commanded except that they should worship Allah sincerely [associating none with Him] and perform the prayer, and give charity. For that is the Upright Religion." (Al Bayyinah: 5)

In such acts of worship three conditions must be met to guarantee acceptance by Allah (ta'ala): two are related to the intention and one to the act itself.

1. Establishing the intention as to what the act is, to distinguish it from other similar acts.
2. This intention must be pure; that is the act must be done only for the sake of Allah (ta'ala).
3. The act must be correct: that is to be in agreement with the Shari'ah.

In this dunya (life on earth) people are judged according to their outward appearance and circumstances, but in the aakhira (the hereafter), Allah will disclose what is in the hearts, thereby, their intentions will be known. One hadith mentioned the three individuals who will be the first to burn in the Fire due to their corrupt intention. They had done great deeds, but because their intention was not pure and their great deeds were not done for the sake of Allah, Allah did not accept their deeds. Allah disclosed what was resident in their hearts.

Two individuals may do the same act in the same manner at the same time, but one would be accepted and the other rejected due to the intention.

Allah does not accept any action that has been done for other than His sake. Allah says: "I am the Self-Sufficient, in no need of the act of one who associates others with Me. If one does an act and associates others with Me, I will leave him and his association." (hadith Qudsi)

Shaytan (Satan) may whisper to you that you not sincere in your worship. In this case, do not listen to his whispering and realize that it is the Shaytan who is trying to ruin your worship and cause you to be confused and ultimately to quit. Ask yourself this question: why am I praying and the answer is going to be: to obey and please Allah. So do not obey the Shaytan and carry on with your prayer.

Hadith Umar
It has been narrated by the Leader of the Believers, Umar bin Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), that he said: "I have heard the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhee wa sallam) say:
"Indeed all actions are only by intentions, and every one shall have that which he intended. Therefore, he whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger, then his migration is for Allah and His Messenger. [But] he whose migration was for a worldly benefit or a woman to marry then his migration is for that which he migrated for."


(to be continued...)



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LESSON THREE: May 21, 2009

Narrated the mother of the believers Aiysha (RAA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:




“An army will raid the Ka’bah and when it reaches a desert land, all of them will be devoured by the earth.” She said: “ I said, O Messenger of Allah! Why all of them? When some of them were there for the purpose of trade and some were coerced? He said: “they shall be devoured, to the last one of them, but they will be resurrected upon their intentions.”





• The noble House of Allah al Ka’abah has been protected by Allah.


• It was built by Ibrahim and his son Ismail (Alay him al Salam) as they established its foundation they declared:


• “Our Lord accept from us , verily You are the All-Hearing the All-Knowing.”


• The first attack against al Ka’bah was done by Abraha and his army. (The Elephant).


• The elephant reached a certain point and stopped. Abraha’s soldiers started beating him to make him move to no avail. He stopped by the command of Allah (taala).


• When the female camel of the Prophet (saw) stopped and sat, the companions started saying that it shied away, but the Prophet (saw) wanted them to be fair with it and said, it did not balk, but it was obstructed by the one which obstructed the elephant. Then he said: “By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, they shall not offer me a proposal by which they glorify Allah’s sanctuary and boundaries except that I will accept it.”


• Allah (SWT) protected His house from the evil design of this tyrannical king, who came in order to demolish the House of Allah. Allah said: “And whosoever desires in it argument with injustice, We shall cause him to taste a painful punishment.


• This hadith indicates that towards the end of the world, an army will attack the ka’abah. In another narration: The Prophet (SAW) said: There will come one who will seek sanctuary in the House of Allah (al Mahdi). An army shall be dispatched against him. When they arrive at a desert land, they will be devoured by the earth. Ayisha asked: O Messenger of Allah, how can that be for among them is the one who is coerced. He said: “He will be devoured with the others and they will all be resurrected according to their intentions.”


• Allah will cause the earth to swallow them every last one of them. Among them will be those who were coerced and those who accompanied them for trade. They will all be swallowed up.


• This hadith indicates that the army will be a huge one, since they will have been accompanied by businesses.


• All of them will be resurrected according to their intentions: as some of them were taken out by force. They did not intend to attack al Ka’bah, and some of them only intended to do business.


• This hadith is a practical illustration of the statement of the Messenger of Allah (SAW): “Indeed all actions are by intention, and for every individual is that which he intended.”


• Lesson learned: Whoever maintains companionship with the people of falsehood, or the people of tyranny and aggression, then indeed he shall be with them at the time of their recompense, be it good or evil.


• Allah said: “Fear a tribulation which does not afflict those who cause oppression amongst you only, And know that Allah is severe in punishment.”



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Hadith:




Jabir bin Abdellah al Ansaari narraged :




“We were with the Prophet (SAW) in an excursion. He said: “Verily in Madina are men--you have not undertaken a journey, nor have you trasversed a valley-except hat they were with you, they were hindered by illness.”




Al Bukhari narrated this hadith in this text: “We returned from the Battle of Tabuk with the Prophet (SAW) who said: “We have not traveled through a mountain pass nor through a valley , except that the people who were left behind in Madina were with us, they were excused from participation.”




Comments:




The reward for the intention of an action shall be accredited to an individual who intended to perform a virtuous deed but was subsequently hindered by an obstacle.




The reward for the complete action is recorded for an individual in this case: If the person performed the action consistently in the absence of an obstacle. Being that he is physically able and he continually does the act. However, a hindrance occurs such as sickness or poverty etc., then this person will be entitled to the full reward of the act as if he has done it. The Messenger of Allah said: “If the servant becomes sick or is on a journey, he will be rewarded for the acts he used to do when he was healthy or resident.”




As for those who wish to do a good deed but could not because of an obstacle then they will be rewarded for the intention but not the complete act, that is if they did not use to do such acts before the obstacle.




The Prophet (SAW) described two individuals: the first was a rich man and was able to spend in charity and the second watched him and said: “If I had money I would do as did such and such.” The Prophet (SAW) said: “He is upon his intention, and those two are equal in reward.” meaning they are equal in reward in their intention.




The ones who did not participate in the expedition with the Prophet (saw) due to their illness, will get the full reward as if they participated since they would do so consistently and they were hindered by illness.




Read ayah tawba: 120-121