Imam al-Bukhari opened his collection with this hadith, and Imam an-Nawawi made it the first of his Forty Hadith. Scholars call it one third of Islam.
What it means
Allah looks at why we act, not only at what we do. The same action can be worship or mere habit depending on the intention behind it.
إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى
“Actions are only by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended.”
Lessons for daily life
Turn ordinary moments into reward:
- Study to please Allah and benefit people
- Eat and sleep to have strength for worship
- Work to provide for your family
Renew your intention
Before each class, say in your heart: "I learn the Quran for Allah." Our teachers begin with this in every online Quran lesson. Explore more in Islamic studies.
Keep learning with Alazhar School
Short Quran lessons, recitations and tips every week.
Topics covered in this guide
- actions are by intentions hadith
- hadith explained
- 40 hadith Nawawi
- online Islamic studies
Knowledge check
One-question quick quiz
Which hadith opens Sahih al-Bukhari?
Frequently asked
Learning with Al-Azhar online
Can I study Hadith online from the USA, UK or Europe?
Yes. Live one-to-one classes are scheduled around international time zones, with the same teacher each week.
Are male and female Al-Azhar teachers available?
Yes. Families may request a qualified male or female teacher, subject to schedule availability.
Can I try a class before choosing a plan?
Yes. Every learner can book a 100% free trial class to meet a teacher and receive a starting-level recommendation.
