Getting our motives right
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- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by M. U. Ndagi
- Hits: 654
Behind every action of man, there is always a motive; sincere or ulterior. While man judges by action, God judges by the intention(s) that led to the action(s). This is why, as Islam teaches, man’s actions or deeds are rewarded according to the motives that prompted them. This in fact is the basic teaching that derives from the first hadith in Imam An-Nawawi’s collection of forty traditions. This particular hadith was informed by the action of some sahabah (companions) of the prophet (SAW) who migrated along with the later from Makkah to Madinah for purposes allegedly other than religious. Some of the sahabah were alleged to have migrated with the prophet (SAW) for the sake of women; and the prophet (SAW) thus said, “…he whose migration was for the sake of some worldly things he might gain or a wife he might marry, his migration (will be rewarded) according to that for the sake of which he migrated”.
It implies from the text of the hadith under reference that man’s action based on the underlining motive can be classified in to two broad categories. They are: one, actions which motives were for the sake of Allah (SWT); and two, actions which motives were not for the sake of Allah (SWT) but for some worldly gains. There are spiritual implications for each of the two categories. As for the first category, man shall be rewarded even if the outcome of his action that was based on good and sincere intention brings misfortune. Similarly, man shall be rewarded by Allah (SWT) for his good intention(s) even when he is unable to transform such in to actions. The reward, undoubtedly, shall be in manifold if he succeeds in translating them in to actions. In the thirty-seventh hadith of An-Nawawi’s collection of forty traditions, Imams Bukhari and Muslim both relate on the authority of Ibn Abbas (RA) that the prophet (SAW) said, “Verily Allah writes down good and evil deeds…whosoever proposes to do a good but fails, Allah writes it down for him as a perfect good deed; but if he proposes and then performs it, Allah writes it down for him as ten good deeds up to seven hundred folds or even more”.Allah’s mercy upon mankind is revealed in His assessment of man’s ulterior motives and evil deeds, which constitutes the second category of man’s actions. If after intending or planning an evil, man fails to act upon it, Allah (SWT) writes down no sin against man. Instead, Allah (SWT) considers man in this case to deserve a reward for changing his evil intention(s); because man’s decision to abandon the course of an intended evil indicates his readiness to follow the path of righteousness. However, if man proposes an evil and consequently carries it out, Allah (SWT) writes down only one evil against him. All this goes to show the loving grace of God for mankind. Allah (SWT) wishes that man shall always strive to be righteous and avoid evil because the doing of good and the carrying out of evil intentions both affect man-to-man relationships with no beneficial or detrimental consequence extending to Allah (SWT). God has nothing to gain from our good deeds just as he suffers nothing from the evils we commit. When Allah (SWT) orders that we should be good in our intentions and actions, He only wishes that the relationship between one man and another shall be cordial leading to the attainment of a human society that is founded on mutual social interactions; fair and equitable economic dealings; decent and credible political culture; as well as an inspiring intellectual climate.
Prevailing circumstances in the country generally point to the truth that today’s Nigerian society greatly suffers from the consequences of ulterior-motivated actions at both the leadership and followership levels of our political landscape. Few Nigerians have sincere intentions in doing whatever they are seen to be doing. These few Nigerians are the God-fearing ones who allow their intentions for performing every duty (obligatory, statutory or voluntary) to be guided by their conscience, which consequently guarantees actions that are genuinely for the sake of Allah (SWT). The trends of economic and political events in the last three decades suggest that we chose to fail in all spheres of our nationhood because the intentions that prompted most of our actions in our respective capacities (individual and collective) sprout from incredibly selfish, brazenly wicked and dubious motives. Insincere intention underscores most of what people set out to do today!
Perhaps, this is why God in His wisdom chose, in the past twelve years of civil rule; to give Nigerians each time they go to polls, the leader they deserve. Many people aspire for elective positions for reasons other than community service. Similarly, Nigerians who think credibility lies in tribe or social status prefer during elections to vote for the highest bidder. This is why this column considers fraudulent intent as corruption in disguise. The poor state of the nation’s economy cannot be isolated from the dubious intentions that underline most transactions at all levels of economic activities; leading to failed financial institutions, failed education system, and failed power sector among others. By the same token of dishonest motives, marriage relationships prematurely breakdown; friendships are short-lived; business enterprises collapse before their maturity age; people’s mandate in governance is sooner than later betrayed; rights of citizens tend to become privileges; and several other aspects of the human society are turned by mendacious objectives in to aberrations. It is also because people are not honest in their intentions that they sometimes find themselves working as mercenaries. Even the observance of religious rites could become shoddy once the intention behind it is not genuine. The logic of this discourse suggests that we need to get our motives right before the greater Nigeria we dream of can be guaranteed. May Allah (SWT) guide us to cherish good intentions and actions; as we also pray that He (SWT) protects us from harbouring evil intentions and actions, amin.
Lauren Booth:
This column welcomes Tony Blair’s sister-in-law, Lauren Booth, in to the Muslim world. Lauren who recently accepted Islam says she is proud to be a member of the Muslim community.
Articles
Getting our motives right
Category: Philosofaith Written by M. U. Ndagi Hits: 654
Behind every action of man, there is always a motive; sincere or ulterior. While man judges by action, God judges by the intention(s) that led to the action(s). This is why, as Islam teaches, man’s actions or deeds are rewarded according to the motives that prompted them. This in fact is the basic teaching that derives from the first hadith in Imam An-Nawawi’s collection of forty traditions. This particular hadith was informed by the action of some sahabah (companions) of the prophet (SAW) who migrated along with the later from Makkah to Madinah for purposes allegedly other than religious. Some of the sahabah were alleged to have migrated with the prophet (SAW) for the sake of women; and the prophet (SAW) thus said, “…he whose migration was for the sake of some worldly things he might gain or a wife he might marry, his migration (will be rewarded) according to that for the sake of which he migrated”.
It implies from the text of the hadith under reference that man’s action based on the underlining motive can be classified in to two broad categories. They are: one, actions which motives were for the sake of Allah (SWT); and two, actions which motives were not for the sake of Allah (SWT) but for some worldly gains. There are spiritual implications for each of the two categories. As for the first category, man shall be rewarded even if the outcome of his action that was based on good and sincere intention brings misfortune. Similarly, man shall be rewarded by Allah (SWT) for his good intention(s) even when he is unable to transform such in to actions. The reward, undoubtedly, shall be in manifold if he succeeds in translating them in to actions. In the thirty-seventh hadith of An-Nawawi’s collection of forty traditions, Imams Bukhari and Muslim both relate on the authority of Ibn Abbas (RA) that the prophet (SAW) said, “Verily Allah writes down good and evil deeds…whosoever proposes to do a good but fails, Allah writes it down for him as a perfect good deed; but if he proposes and then performs it, Allah writes it down for him as ten good deeds up to seven hundred folds or even more”.Allah’s mercy upon mankind is revealed in His assessment of man’s ulterior motives and evil deeds, which constitutes the second category of man’s actions. If after intending or planning an evil, man fails to act upon it, Allah (SWT) writes down no sin against man. Instead, Allah (SWT) considers man in this case to deserve a reward for changing his evil intention(s); because man’s decision to abandon the course of an intended evil indicates his readiness to follow the path of righteousness. However, if man proposes an evil and consequently carries it out, Allah (SWT) writes down only one evil against him. All this goes to show the loving grace of God for mankind. Allah (SWT) wishes that man shall always strive to be righteous and avoid evil because the doing of good and the carrying out of evil intentions both affect man-to-man relationships with no beneficial or detrimental consequence extending to Allah (SWT). God has nothing to gain from our good deeds just as he suffers nothing from the evils we commit. When Allah (SWT) orders that we should be good in our intentions and actions, He only wishes that the relationship between one man and another shall be cordial leading to the attainment of a human society that is founded on mutual social interactions; fair and equitable economic dealings; decent and credible political culture; as well as an inspiring intellectual climate.
Prevailing circumstances in the country generally point to the truth that today’s Nigerian society greatly suffers from the consequences of ulterior-motivated actions at both the leadership and followership levels of our political landscape. Few Nigerians have sincere intentions in doing whatever they are seen to be doing. These few Nigerians are the God-fearing ones who allow their intentions for performing every duty (obligatory, statutory or voluntary) to be guided by their conscience, which consequently guarantees actions that are genuinely for the sake of Allah (SWT). The trends of economic and political events in the last three decades suggest that we chose to fail in all spheres of our nationhood because the intentions that prompted most of our actions in our respective capacities (individual and collective) sprout from incredibly selfish, brazenly wicked and dubious motives. Insincere intention underscores most of what people set out to do today!
Perhaps, this is why God in His wisdom chose, in the past twelve years of civil rule; to give Nigerians each time they go to polls, the leader they deserve. Many people aspire for elective positions for reasons other than community service. Similarly, Nigerians who think credibility lies in tribe or social status prefer during elections to vote for the highest bidder. This is why this column considers fraudulent intent as corruption in disguise. The poor state of the nation’s economy cannot be isolated from the dubious intentions that underline most transactions at all levels of economic activities; leading to failed financial institutions, failed education system, and failed power sector among others. By the same token of dishonest motives, marriage relationships prematurely breakdown; friendships are short-lived; business enterprises collapse before their maturity age; people’s mandate in governance is sooner than later betrayed; rights of citizens tend to become privileges; and several other aspects of the human society are turned by mendacious objectives in to aberrations. It is also because people are not honest in their intentions that they sometimes find themselves working as mercenaries. Even the observance of religious rites could become shoddy once the intention behind it is not genuine. The logic of this discourse suggests that we need to get our motives right before the greater Nigeria we dream of can be guaranteed. May Allah (SWT) guide us to cherish good intentions and actions; as we also pray that He (SWT) protects us from harbouring evil intentions and actions, amin.
Lauren Booth:
This column welcomes Tony Blair’s sister-in-law, Lauren Booth, in to the Muslim world. Lauren who recently accepted Islam says she is proud to be a member of the Muslim community.