Intentions are what determine if one’s deeds are considered null and void of compensation, or if they are acts of worship. For example, if someone goes to bed early with the intention of waking up to pray the night prayers (Qiyam) or the dawn prayers (Fajr), their act of sleeping becomes an act of worship, and they are rewarded for it or it could become a sin he will be punished for. Another example is he who worships Allah, which is an act that should draw him closer to Allah, but if his intentions are to impress people and seek their approval, and he is doing so not hoping for Allah’s pleasure, he will receive no reward and it would be sin instead.
What also proves the importance of intentions, is that the Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah Almighty says: “ he who has intended a good deed and has not done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as a full good deed, but if he has intended it and has done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as ten good deeds‘ so it is clear that if his intention is to do a good deed, he will be rewarded.
( Whether you speak secretly or openly—He surely knows best what is ˹hidden˺ in the heart.) Al-Mulk 67: 13
النية تخرج العمل من كونه مباح لا أجر فيه إلى كونه عبادة يؤجر عليها. كمن ينام مبكرًا ليستيقظ لصلاة الفجر، أو لقيام الليل ، ومن كونه عبادة يؤجر عليها إلى إثم يتحمله صاحبه، كمن يعمل العبادة التي هي قربة إلى الله وهو يريد منها مدح الناس وحسن ثنائهم عليه، فلا أجر له في العبادة بل عليه إثم لأنه عمل العمل لغير وجه الله تعالى.
ومما يبين أهمية النية ما جاء في الحديث القدسي من قول رسول الله ﷺ قال: قالَ اللَّهُ عزَّ وجلَّ: “إذا تَحَدَّثَ عَبْدِي بأَنْ يَعْمَلَ حَسَنَةً، فأنا أكْتُبُها له حَسَنَةً ما لَمْ يَعْمَلْ، فإذا عَمِلَها، فأنا أكْتُبُها بعَشْرِ أمْثالِها….” فأفاد أن نية العبد بالقيام بالحسنة مثاب عليها.
(وَأَسِرُّوا قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ اجْهَرُوا بِهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ) الملك 67: 13