In this dunya we are trees. From a seed we sprout and roots erupt forth and we flourish into an image of branches and leaves. Our leaves encompass us into a tree. We can choose to be rooted in rich soil or we can choose to have diseased roots contaminating the leaves from above.

Intentions, or niyyah are the roots of all our actions. They can strengthen or weaken our relationship with Allah (swt). It is not an act of saying but doing and niyyah lies in our hearts that only Allah (swt) sees. Our deeds are leaves enveloping and defining the kind of Muslims that we are.

Every single action that we partake in is only to seek Allah’s pleasure. The reward for these actions must be entailed with ikhlas, or sincerity. That is why intention is a large criterion when it comes to having our books being recorded for good or bad deeds.

“Say (O Muhammed (saw)): ‘Verily, I am commanded to worship Allah (Alone) by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only’” (39:11).

Worshipping Allah (swt) is obeying Him and whatever He has ordained us to do. It literally means that everything we set out to accomplish is for the sole purpose to please our lord and love that we are born for this purpose.
The breath that we take is so we can live and prostrate to His words. When we eat, it is to have the strength to pray and fulfill the orders of Allah (swt).

To rest our heads, close our eyes and drift into an almost death is to rest our bodies from the physical duties of worshipping Him.

Every other moment we have been blessed with and every action should be in adherence to worshipping Allah (swt).

Allah’s Messenger said, “Verily, all actions are but driven by intention and for everyone is what he intended.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet is telling us that actions are defined through intentions and this is what Allah (swt) will judge us upon.
The Prophet said, “He, who seriously considered doing a good deed but did not do it, will have one good deed recorded for him” (Muslim).

Allah is Al-Latif and will reward us for just contemplating wanting to do a good deed as well as giving us credit when we fulfill it. And yet again He is Ar Rahman when He rewards us even when we want to commit a sin but refrain from doing it in fear of His all-powerful wrath.

“But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Allah (swt) says in the Qu’ran, “I did not create the jinns and the humans except to worship Me alone” (51:56). It is clear that our goals in this dunya are to serve: not to serve our desires, or our families wants, or what society hammers us to do. We have come into existence to serve Allah (swt) and disregard all other goals that go against the Qu’ran and Sunnah.

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). (Al-Bukhari)
Our actions are worthless to Allah (swt) if we do not intend it for His sake. We may gain some worldly benefit, feel happy, make some profit, or make a name for ourselves but with Allah (swt), the actions are only valid if it is purely serving and obeying Him.

As the hadeeth mentions, we will be exposed for our intentions when we are resurrected even if the acts are golden but the niyyah is tainted with a lust for admiration.

But Muslims have a habit of saying that “it’s in the heart” whenever they lack a duty in Islam. Whether it may be their excuses for not wearing the hijab, missing the salah for Fajr, or not attending Jumaa, they say that Allah knows what’s in the hearts and that they intend, inshAllah, to do whatever they lack in their deen.

It is true that Allah knows what’s in their hearts and Allah is the ultimate judge for this but intentions are followed by their actions. If it were “all in the heart,” Allah (swt) would not command us to pray or fast and do things that He loves. The proof is in the actions; intentions and actions are married to one another and one cannot flourish without the other.

A bad deed does not make it a good deed because of the intention. Once it is forbidden from Allah (swt) it will never be accepted as a good deed whether the niyyah was to create good. We cannot expect to sell alcohol and make the intention that we are collecting money to help fund the masjid. What we are doing from the beginning is unacceptable to Allah no matter the niyyah.

When it comes to a good act it can be valid or invalid, depending if there was ikhlas within the intention. We can be leaders in youth groups and feed our hungry Muslims but the good deed will be abolished if the niyyah was anything other than seeking Allah’s reward. The good deed also loses its value when it is combined with some other purpose, like yearning for wealth, recognition, or status.

Prophet Muhammed (saw) said, “Certainly, Allah does not look at your shapes or wealth. But He only looks at your hearts and deeds.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The purpose and our perseverance for our actions are to please Allah (swt). We shall not eagerly wait for something in return but for our books to be inked with good deeds and blessings from Him. Forget expecting a thank you when we help Muslims move their belongings to a new home, or a beaming smile when we open the door for an elderly woman.

Our hearts should quiver eagerly and fervently waiting for Allah’s rewards to shower on us like raindrops instead of having desire for the pleasures of this life. Let our leaves embrace us with our goodness.

Originally published in InFocus News May 2010

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