What principles are contained in the hadith 'Actions are only by intentions'?
2026-09-21
T93 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Selected explanation · Selected source passage(s) — fully translated
Selected continuous passage; light punctuation normalization has been applied for reading. The English translates every displayed Arabic paragraph; this selection is not the complete surrounding work. Square brackets identify translator-supplied clarification.
النص العربي
المقتطف
وَأَصْلُ الْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ هُوَ إخْلَاصُ الْعَبْدِ لِلَّهِ فِي نِيَّتِهِ فَإِنَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ إنَّمَا أَنْزَلَ الْكُتُبَ وَأَرْسَلَ الرُّسُلَ وَخَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ لِعِبَادَتِهِ وَهِيَ دَعْوَةُ الرُّسُلِ لِكَافَّةِ بَرِيَّتِهِ كَمَا ذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابِهِ عَلَى أَلْسِنَةِ رُسُلِهِ بِأَوْضَحِ دَلَالَتِهِ؛ وَلِهَذَا كَانَ السَّلَفُ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَفْتَتِحُوا مَجَالِسَهُمْ وَكُتُبَهُمْ وَغَيْرَ ذَلِكَ بِحَدِيثِ: " {إنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ} " فِي أَوَّلِ الْأَمْرِ وَبِدَايَتِهِ.
English translation
English translation reviewed against the displayed Arabic by SalafAlSalih editorial preparation (AI-assisted); explanatory additions appear in square brackets or separate notes.
Selected explanation
The foundation of righteous action is the servant’s sincerity toward Allah in his intention. He, Glorified is He, revealed the books, sent the messengers, and created creation only for His worship. This is the call of the messengers to all His creation, as He has mentioned in His Book through the words of His messengers with the clearest evidence. For this reason, the early generations liked to open their gatherings, books, and similar undertakings with the hadith, “Actions are only according to intentions,” at their commencement and beginning.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 18/246
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic passage checked against the cited volume and printed page. English reviewed against every displayed Arabic paragraph on 14 October 2026.