Hadith #10451

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the importance of cultivating good intentions and virtuous purposes in our actions. The word (Habituate) "عَوِّدْ" in the Hadith implies the need to make this a consistent practice in our lives. It is not enough to have good intentions occasionally, but rather we should strive to make it a habit, a part of our character.

The phrase (good intention) "حُسْنَ النِّيَّةِ" refers to having pure and sincere intentions in all that we do. It means that our actions should be driven by a desire to please Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and seek His pleasure. This includes seeking His reward in the Hereafter and not seeking any worldly gain or recognition.

The phrase (virtuous purpose) "جَمِيلَ الْمَقْصَدِ" refers to the noble objectives and goals that we set for ourselves. It means that our actions should be directed towards righteousness, justice, and benefitting others. Our intentions should be aligned with the teachings of Islam and the principles of morality and ethics.

To understand the significance of this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:225):

Allah does not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He imposes blame upon you for what your hearts have earned. And Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.

This verse highlights the importance of having good intentions, as Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) looks at the state of our hearts.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Isra (17:84), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

Say, 'Each works according to his manner, but your Lord is most knowing of who is best guided in way.'

This verse reminds us that our intentions and actions are known to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and it is He who determines the righteousness and guidance of our deeds.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us that success in our endeavors is not solely dependent on the outcome, but rather on the purity of our intentions and the righteousness of our objectives. Even if our efforts do not yield the desired results, if our intentions were sincere and our purpose was virtuous, we have achieved success in the eyes of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

For example, if a person donates to a charitable cause with the intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and helping those in need, even if the outcome does not bring about significant change, their act of charity is still considered successful because their intention was pure and their purpose was virtuous.

On the other hand, if a person engages in acts of worship or good deeds with the intention of showing off or seeking worldly recognition, their actions may appear successful to others, but in reality, they have failed to attain true success in the sight of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us of the importance of cultivating good intentions and virtuous purposes in our actions. It teaches us that success is not measured solely by the outcome, but rather by the sincerity of our intentions and the righteousness of our objectives. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to habituate ourselves to good intentions and virtuous purposes, and may He bless us with success in this world and the Hereafter.