Intention is the driving force in the heart towards a deed that is in accord with a sound goal
A Muslim believes that intention is an essential component of deeds and
a condition for the validity of the deed. He also knows that the intention is not simply the statement of the tongue,
"O Allah, I intend such and such...." Nor is it simply a thought in the mind.
Instead, it is the driving force in the heart towards a deed that is in accord with a sound goal of bringing about benefit or repelling harm,
presently or in the future. It is also the will that directs a person a deed for the sake of Allah and fulfill His Commands.
A Muslim, therefore, also believes that a permissible act may become an act of obedience,
worthy of reward and recompense. At the same time, an act of obedience, if it is void of a pious intention,
becomes an act of disobedience worthy of punishment and burden.
He also does not believe that an act of disobedience can be changed into an act of obedience simply due to a good intention.
For example, the one who backbites a person just to make another person feel better has disobeyed Allah and has committed a sin.
His "good intention" will not benefit him at all in consideration with Allah, the one who builds a mosque,
with money from prohibited sources, will not be rewarded.
Similarly, anyone who builds a dome over the grave of a pious person,
slaughters an animal on his behalf or makes an oath on his behalf, all in the name of having love for the pious people,
is disobeying Allah and earning a sin for what he has done.
This is done even if, in his eyes, has had a pious intention.
A deed is not transformed by a pious intention into an act of obedience unless it was something permissible in the Shari'ah in the first place.
As for a forbidden act, it never becomes an act of obedience under any circumstances whatsoever.
The Prophet said:
"He who lets the people hear of his good deeds intentionally, to win their praise,
Allah will let the people know his real intention (on the Day of Resurrection),
and he who does good things in public to show off and win the praise of the people, Allah will disclose his real intention (and humiliate him).
[Bukhari]
Khadejah Jones
Share Islam Team
ShareIslam.com