Hadith 4199

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيل بْنِ عِمْرَانَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ , حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ , حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ , حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ رَبٍّ , قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ , يَقُولُ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ , يَقُولُ : " إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ كَالْوِعَاءِ , إِذَا طَابَ أَسْفَلُهُ طَابَ أَعْلَاهُ , وَإِذَا فَسَدَ أَسْفَلُهُ فَسَدَ أَعْلَاهُ " .
´Mu’awiyah bin Abu Sufyan said:` “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘Deeds are like vessels. If the lower part is good then the upper part will be good, and if the lower part is bad then the upper part will be bad.’”
Hadith Reference سنن ابن ماجه / كتاب الزهد / 4199
Hadith Grading الألبانی: صحيح
Hadith Takhrij « تفرد بہ ابن ماجہ ، ( تحفة الأشراف : 11458 ، ومصباح الزجاجة : 1494 ) ، وقد أخرجہ : مسند احمد ( 4/94 ) ( صحیح ) ( سلسلة الاحادیث الصحیحة ، للالبانی : 1734 ) »
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
➊ If there is sincerity in the depths of the heart at the time of performing an action, then the action will be good and acceptable. If there is no sincerity in the heart, then even an action that outwardly appears good is, in reality, not good.

➋ If there is water in a vessel and filth is present at the bottom of the vessel, then all the water in the vessel becomes affected by it and becomes unusable, even if the water on the surface appears clean. The same is the case with actions and sincerity.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 4199