Intention & Sincerity

The Commander of the Believers, Abu Hafs ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "Verily, the reward of deeds depends on intentions, and each person will be rewarded according to what he intended. So, he whose emigration is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, his emigration will be for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, and he whose emigration is to achieve some worldly gain or take some woman in marriage, his migration will be for what he has migrated for."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah does not look at your appearance and wealth, but He looks at your hearts and deeds.”

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah Almighty said: 'I am the One Who is most free from want of partners. So, he who does something for the sake of someone else beside Me, I discard him and his polytheism.'"

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The first to be judged on the Day of Judgment is a man who was martyred. He will be brought and Allah will remind him of His favor [upon him], which he will recognize. Allah will say: 'What did you do as a token of gratitude for that favor?' He will say: 'I fought for Your sake until I was martyred.' Allah will say: 'You have lied. You fought so it would be said that you were brave, and it was said.' It will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is thrown in the Fire. A man who acquired knowledge, taught it, and recited the Qur'an. He will be brought and Allah will remind him of His favor [upon him], which he will recognize. Allah will say: 'What did you do as a token of gratitude for that favor?' He will say: 'I acquired knowledge and taught it, and I recited the Qur'an for Your sake.' Allah will say: 'You have lied. You learned so it would be said that you were a scholar, and you recited the Qur'an so it would be said that you were a reciter, and that was said.' It will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is thrown in the Fire. A man for whom Allah expanded his resources and gave him from all types of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will remind him of His favor [upon him], which he will recognize. Allah will say: 'What did you do as a token of gratitude for that favor?' He will say: 'I left no path wherein You love to spend except that I spent therein for Your sake.' Allah will say: 'You have lied. You did that so it would be said that you were generous, and that was said.' It will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is thrown in the Fire."