Below are
translated excerpts from the beautiful work by Imaam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (RH) entitled 'Jaami
Al-Uloom wal Hikm' in which he has a detailed commentary on 50 ahaadeeth of
the Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. (Basically an-Nawawee’s 42
ahaadeeth with 8 added on)
THE FIRST HADEETH:
Umar bin al-Khattaab relates that: 'I
heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, saying, "verily actions
are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended. So the one whose hijra was to
Allaah and His Messenger, then his hijrah was to Allaah and His Messenger. And the one
whose hijrah was for the world to gain from it, or a woman to marry her, then his hijrah
was to what he made hijrah for."
Related by Bukhaaree and Muslim.
This hadeeth is singularly narrated
by Yahya bin Sa’eed al-Ansaaree from Muhammad bin Ibraaheem at-Taimee from Alqama bin
Abee Waqqaas from Umar bin al-Khattaab (RA) and this hadeeth has no other authentic route
as stated by Ali bin al-Madinee and others.
Al-Khattaabee said, 'I do not know
of a difference concerning this amongst the Ahlul Hadeeth.' This despite the fact that it
has been reported from the hadeeth of Abu Sa`eed and others – and it is said that it
is reported via many routes – but none of them are authentic according to the Hadeeth
Masters.
Then from al-Ansaaree a huge group
of people reports this hadeeth. It is said that the number is more than two hundred, and
it is also said that the number is more than seven hundred. From the most notable of these
are: Imaam Maalik, ath-Thawree. Al-Awzaa`ee, ibn al-Mubaarak, Layth bin Sa`d, Hammaad bin
Zayd, Shu`bah, ibn Uyaynah and others. The scholars have agreed to its authenticity and
have unanimously accepted it.
IT IS DESIRED THAT YOU BEGIN EVERY
BOOK WITH THIS HADEETH:
And Imaam Bukhaaree commences his
Saheeh with this hadeeth and gives it the place of an opening lecture from him thereby
indicating that every action that is done not desiring the Face of Allaah is invalid
bearing no fruits in this world and in the Hereafter.
This is why Abdurrahmaan al-Mahdee
said, "If I were to write a book composed of chapters, I would place in every chapter
the hadeeth of Umar bin al-Khattaab to do with 'actions are by intentions'."
And from him that he said,
"whosoever desires to author a book then let him start with the hadeeth to do with
‘actions are by intentions.’"
This hadeeth is one of the hadeeth
around which the whole religion revolves, and it is related from Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee that
he said, "this hadeeth constitutes a third of all knowledge."
Imaam Ahmad said, "the
foundations of Islaam are upon three ahaadeeth:
- The hadeeth of Umar, 'verily actions are by
intention'
- The hadeeth of Aa`ishah, 'whoseover introduces
into this affair of ours that which is not part it, then it is rejected.'
- The hadeeth of Nu`maan bin Bashir, 'the halaal is
clear and the haraam is clear.'"
Ishaaq bin Raahawayah said,
"the foundations of the religion are upon four hadeeth:
- The hadeeth of Umar, 'verily actions are by
intention.'
- The hadeeth, 'the halaal is clear, and the haraam
is clear.'
- The hadeeth, 'verily the creation of one of you
comes together in the stomach of his mother for 40 days.'
- The hadeeth, 'whosoever invents into this affair
of ours anything which is not part of it, then it is rejected.'"
Abu Ubayd said, "the Prophet,
sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, collected all the affairs of the Hereafter in one statement,
'whosoever introduces into this affair of ours that which is not part of it, then it is
rejected.' And all the affairs of this world in one statement, 'verily actions are
by intentions.' Place them in every chapter."
The Hadeeth of the Niyyah (Intention)
