Importance of Pure Intention

Man can only intend to do something and leave the result to God Almighty. If he fails, he is not to be blamed.

For the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) has said:

“Intention of the believer is better than actual completion.”

It is better to begin something with true motives than to complete it without any motive. Determination of correct motives is of tremendous importance in Islam, in that it leads to higher and higher objectives.

For instance, if a man abstains from food and drink with no intention of religious fasting, he is entitled to no reward. But if he intends to fast he becomes one of the inmates of Divine Presence although there is no apparent difference between the one who fasts with the intention of fasting and the one who fasts without it.

Similarly, a person who goes to Mecca without the intention of visiting the Holy Shrine deserves no recompense, but if he has that intention and dies on the way before visiting it, he is rewarded immensely.

This shows that the fixation of true motive in the beginning is tantamount to good performance itself.