Intention Basics
What does “intention” mean?
The reason why you do something — what’s in your heart when you act.
You study hard just to beat your classmate’s grade. Good or bad intention?
Bad — it’s done for pride, not for Allah or self-betterment.
Complete the hadith: “Actions are by ___.”
Intentions.
True or False: Sleeping can be worship if done with the right intention.
True.
Why does Allah care about your intention, not just your action?
Because your heart is what truly matters — actions without sincerity mean nothing.
Who said: “Actions are judged by intentions”?
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Hadith in Bukhari & Muslim).
You help your sibling because your parents forced you, but not because you want to. What’s missing?
A sincere intention (to please Allah, to truly help).
What happens to your reward if your intention is to show off?
The action has no reward and could even be sinful.
What’s the Arabic word for “intention”?
Niyyah.
Can someone do a bad action with a good intention? Give an example.
Yes — e.g. stealing to “help the poor” is still haram because the action itself is wrong.
Give an example of a good action with a bad intention.
Examples: Giving charity to show off, praying just so people will praise you.
You play sports to be healthy & strong for Allah’s sake — good or bad?
Good — it turns a normal action into worship.
Who gave this counsel about intention that we are learning today?
Imam al-Ghazali.
Name something you could do this week with a pure intention.
Open answer: e.g. pray on time, help parents, study for Allah’s sake.
If you start an action with a bad intention but then fix it halfway through, what happens?
You can still be rewarded from the point your intention became sincere.
What happens if two people do the same action but with different intentions?
One can get reward and the other gets nothing (or even sin).
Give an example of a normal action that could become worship with the right intention.
Sleeping to have energy for Fajr, eating to have strength to work for Allah, studying to benefit people.
Why did Imam al-Ghazali say “woe to you” for bad intention?
Because seeking knowledge for fame/status leads to harm and no benefit.
Why is intention called the “starting point” of every action?
Because before you act, your heart decides why you’re doing it — that’s what Allah judges first.
How can you check your intention before doing something?
Pause and ask yourself: “Who am I doing this for? Allah or other people?”
What is Imam al-Ghazali’s warning if you seek knowledge only to look smarter than others?
“Woe to you” — it brings no benefit and can harm you spiritually.
Why might posting good deeds online be dangerous for your heart?
It can lead to showing off (riya) and losing sincerity.
What is the reward if you do a good action sincerely for Allah, even if no one notices?
You are rewarded by Allah — sincerity makes it valuable.
Double Points: Describe how you would turn doing homework into worship.
By intending: “I’m learning so I can be useful, help others, and please Allah.”
Why is it important to renew your intention regularly, not just once?
Because intentions can change over time — renewing keeps you sincere.