[attishina]

Intention (Niyyah)- A detailed commentary by Imam Nawawi

From the Amir al-Muminin Abu Hafs 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, radiya'llahu 'anhu, that he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying, 'Actions are only by intentions, and every man has only that which he intended. 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 for which he emigrated'." The two Imams of the hadith scholars (Imams Bukhari and Muslim) narrated it.

Commentary by Imam Nawawi (RA):

The hadith indicates that intention is the measure for rendering actions true, so that where intention is sound action is sound, and where it is corrupt then action is corrupt.

Wherever there is action accompanied by intention, then there are three states:
Read more:
http://tazkiyatips.blogspot.com/2012...entary-by.html

[corolaelwis]

I read the blog and like it.

I have a question regarding the subject matter. Could someone help me ease my conflicts in thought here.

From the blog post below ....


There are three divisions with respect to those who are sincere:

You must know that sincerity is exposed to the defect of conceit and whoever is conceited about his action then his action is invalid, as it is invalid if he is arrogantly proud. The second state is that one does that seeking both the world and the next life. One of the people of knowledge took the position that [in that case] his action is rejected and he sought a proof of that from his words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the Lordly hadith (hadith qudsi), "Allah exalted is He says, 'I am the most independent of partners, so whoever does an action in which he makes other than Me a partner, then I am free of it'." This was the position that al-Harith al-Muhasibi took in the book ar-Ri'ayah. He said, "Sincerity is that you intend Him by obedience to Him and that you do not intend any other than Him." I would put myself in the category of people in bold sentence. This is the part that troubles
me most , more then Riya or shirk ( Although every one should be on guard from these , no one is Immune )

People get interested in Islam and start practicing it with zeal for various reasons. For so many people the world we live in and troubles therein some how attract them towards Allah in a strange ironic way . They want something better then what the world offers at the same time they want Allah as the one with divine status to make their worldly life better.

Indeed the Rasul Allah has many traditions ( Sunnah ) where he instructed the Ummah to ask
the best in the lower world as well as the everlasting one.

How dose one ignore the needs of this lower world from Allah as he is the one giving it ?

Yes there are people whose Ikhlas has risen above this state .
This line of thought always gives me doubts and conflicts in my actions / Amal and one of Shytan's favorite was wasa to say to me ( I am assuming ) goes like this ...

' Your not good enough to worship Allah ....
your always consumed with the world , leave the struggles and hard work for Ibadah
especially things like salat , Saum , zikr and the rest to people who have perfect niyyah.
Its not for you )' Sketchy as it may sound on daily basis these are the kind of thoughts that go through many a brother and sisters mind I presume .

One might not have a perfect Ikhlas and pure Niyyah like the best of the Ummah . But dose
that make ones effort useless ?

What do you think?

[MexicoCity]

I read the blog and like it.

I have a question regarding the subject matter. Could someone help me ease my conflicts in thought here.

From the blog post below ....

I understood it this way. Eg: Some people pray in Jamaath to please Allah, at the same time they want to show off to other people. That would be seeking Akhirah and this world togather. But the deed is invalid since there is an element of Riya in it.

[corolaelwis]

I understood it this way. Eg: Some people pray in Jamaath to please Allah, at the same time they want to show off to other people. That would be seeking Akhirah and this world togather. But the deed is invalid since there is an element of Riya in it.

What I understood is that when you want anything other then Allah from Allah especially if it has to do with the world you have faults in your Niyyah / ikhlas . Was my understanding wrong ?

OR was that something predetermined in my mind . Whichever way that is the conflict I have been having for a long while. Keeps the mind in a state of 'limbo' ( that is the correct word )
as if I am awaiting for someone to do something that changes my life .

[attishina]

I understood it this way. Eg: Some people pray in Jamaath to please Allah, at the same time they want to show off to other people. That would be seeking Akhirah and this world togather. But the deed is invalid since there is an element of Riya in it.

yes , I think this pertains to the ibadat acts and doesnot appply to mundane acts done for worldly purposes.
1.Ibadah done for people's appreciation= Riya
2.Ibadah done for aakhirah=ikhlas
3.Ibadah done for people's appreciation+aakhirah=partly Riya and is wholly rejected according to many Scholars and partly rejected according to some.
4.Worldly works (Halal) done for dunya= Mubah (ok)
5.Worldly works (Halal) done with intention of pleasing Allah=Ibadah! for details see http://tazkiyatips.blogspot.com/2012...ne-lawful.html
6.Prohibited acts done with either good or bad intention=Sins

So, we must try for 2 and 5 always in all acts = perfect Ikhlas and Maximum ajar. InshAllah.

[corolaelwis]

What I understood is that when you want anything other then Allah from Allah especially if it has to do with the world you have faults in your Niyyah / ikhlas . Was my understanding wrong ?

OR was that something predetermined in my mind . Whichever way that is the conflict I have been having for a long while. Keeps the mind in a state of 'limbo' ( that is the correct word )
as if I am awaiting for someone to do something that changes my life . What about these thoughts ? help me get rid of my dilemma please.

[MexicoCity]

What about these thoughts ? help me get rid of my dilemma please.

If someone is praying in the masjid, the Salaf used to say, 'when shaytaan attacks you in prayer, lenghten your prayer.'

Basically we shouldn't shorten our ibadah in fear of riya. We shouldn't care what others think. But it is nice to hide good deeds.

Also doubt in our ikhlas is normal. It is said, 'the person who thinks he is sincere, lacks ikhlas.' If one were to be confident of ones sincerity then one has definitely failed. We should be constantly checking our niyyah, it is something that has to be renewed timely.

[attishina]

What about these thoughts ? help me get rid of my dilemma please.

"when you want anything other than Allah from Allah especially if it has to do with the world " as long as its Halal within shariah, it is ok InshAllah and doesnot contradict ikhlas.