This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
◈The Reward of Sincerity of Intention:
Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ﴾
"O My Prophet! So worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion."
Reference: (39-Al-Zumar:2)
عن عمر أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: الأعمال بالنية ولكل امرئ ما نوى فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله ومن كانت هجرته لدنيا يصيبها أو امرأة يتزوجها فهجرته إلى ما هاجر إليه.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Actions are judged by intentions (or their reward is according to the intention), and every person will get what he intended. So whoever migrates for Allah and His Messenger, his migration will be for Allah and His Messenger, and whoever migrates for worldly gain or to marry a woman, his migration will be for what he migrated for.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Faith, No: 54
عن سعد بن أبى وقاص أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إنك لن تنفق نفقة تبتغي بها وجه الله إلا أجرت عليها حتى ما تجعل فى فم امرأتك.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Saad bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) that indeed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to him: Indeed, whatever you spend and your intention is to seek the pleasure of Allah, you will be rewarded for it. Even for what you put into your wife's mouth (a morsel).
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Faith, No: 56
◈ Sincerity of intention protects from the fire of Hell:
عن عمرو بن دينار قال: سمعت جابر بن عبد الله يقول: إنا من شهد معاذا حين حضرته الوفاة يقول: اكشفوا عني سحيف القبة أحدثكم حديثا سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقال مرة أخبركم بشيء سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لم يمنعني أن أحدثكموه إلا أن تتكلوا سمعته يقول: من شهد أن لا إله إلا الله مخلصا من قلبه أو يقينا من قلبه لم يدخل النار أو دخل الجنة وقال مرة: دخل الجنة ولم تمسه النار.
It is narrated from Umar ibn Dinar that he said: I heard Jabir ibn Abdullah رضي الله عنه saying that I was among those present at the time of Mu'adh رضي الله عنه's death. He said, "Remove the curtain of the tent from me, for I am about to narrate to you the hadith which I heard from the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Only one thing prevented me from doing so earlier, lest you rely upon it too much." I heard the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say: Whoever testifies with a truthful heart and firm conviction that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the fire of Hell will not touch him, and he will enter Paradise.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 236/5 – Musnad Humaydi, Number: 369
Ibn Hibban has declared it authentic.
Reference: Sahih Ibn Hibban, Number: 200
◈ Sayings of the pious predecessors regarding sincerity of intention:
➊ Imam Saeed bin Al-Musayyib, may Allah have mercy on him, says that when Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, ascended the pulpit on Friday, Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, asked him: Did you free me to make me your servant or for the sake of attaining Allah's pleasure? He replied: For the sake of Allah's pleasure. Then Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Then allow me to go to the battle. So he gave permission. Thus, he set out for the land of Sham and passed away there.
Reference: Seer A'lam An-Nubala: 357/1
➋ Imam Abu Hazim, may Allah have mercy on him, used to say: Just as you hide your evils, similarly keep your good deeds hidden as well.
Reference: Seer A'lam An-Nubala: 100/6
➌ Imam Rabi' bin Khuthaym, may Allah have mercy on him, says that any deed not done for the sake of Allah's pleasure but done for ostentation disappears.
Reference: Seer A'lam An-Nubala: 259/4
➍ Imam Sufyan Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, says that there is no deed better and higher than knowledge acquired with sincerity of intention.
Reference: Seer A'lam An-Nubala: 244/7
➎ Imam Mu'ammar, may Allah have mercy on him, says that if a person seeks knowledge for anything other than Allah, knowledge rejects him, and knowledge is attained only when sought for the sake of Allah's pleasure.
Reference: Seer A'lam An-Nubala: 17/7
➏ Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, says: Many deeds are very small but sincerity of intention makes them great, and many deeds are great but lack of sincerity in intention makes them insignificant.
Reference: Seer A'lam An-Nubala: 400/8
