ثَوابُ نِيَّةِ الخَيرِ The Reward of an Intention to Do Good

8ـ عن رسولِ اللّه‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): تَرَكنا في المَدينَةِ أقواماً لا نَقطَعُ وادِياً ولا نَصعَدُ صُعوداً ولا نَهبِطُ هُبوطاً إلّا كانُوا مَعَنا . قالُوا: كَيفَ يَكونونَ مَعَنا ولَم يَشهَدوا ؟! قالَ: نِيّاتُهُم.

8– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘We left groups of people in Madinah, and there is no valley we crossed nor heights we climbed nor hills we descended without them being with us. They said, ‘How can they be with us when they did not witness any of this?’ He said, ‘[Because of] their intentions.’[Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 7261]
 

9ـ رسولُ اللهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): يا أبا ذرٍّ، هِمَّ بالحَسَنَةِ وإن لَم تَعمَلْها، لِكَيلا تُكتَبَ مِن الغافِلينَ.

9– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘O Abu Dharr, intend to do good, even if you do not [manage to] do it so that you are not written among the inattentive.’[Makarim al-Akhlaq, v. 2, p. 378, no. 2661]

 

10ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): النِّيَّةُ الصّالِحَةُ أحَدُ العَمَلَينِ.

10– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Righteous intention is one of the two actions.’[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1624]
 

11ـ عن الإمامِ عليٍّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ـ لِرجُلٍ يَوَدُّ حُضورَ أخيهِ ليَشهَدَ نَصرَ اللّه‏ِ على أعدائهِ في الجَمَلِ ـ: أهَوى أخيكَ مَعَنا ؟ فقالَ: نَعَم، قالَ: فَقد شَهِدَنا، ولَقد شَهِدَنا في عَسكَرِنا هذا أقوامٌ (قَومٌ) في أصلابِ الرِّجالِ وأرحامِ النِّساءِ، سَيَرعَفُ بِهِمُ الزَّمانُ، ويَقوى بِهِمُ الإيمانُ.

11– Imam Ali (AS) said to a man who wished his brother was present so that he could see the victory of Allah over His enemies at the Battle of the Camel, ‘Did your brother desire to be with us?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He (AS) said, ‘Then he has witnessed us, and groups of people have witnessed us in our army while they are still in the loins of men and the wombs of women. Time will bring them out and faith will become strong through them.’[Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 12]
 

12ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): على قَدرِ النِّيَّةِ تَكونُ مِن اللّه‏ِ العَطِيَّةُ .

12– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Allah’s granting [of rewards] is according to the intention.’[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6193]
 

13ـ الإمامُ الباقرُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إذا عَلِمَ اللّه‏ُ تعالى حُسنَ نِيَّةٍ مِن أحَدٍ، اكتَنَفَهُ بالعِصمَةِ .

13– Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘When Allah Almighty knows the good intention of someone He encompasses him with protection [from sins].’[A`alam al-Din, p. 301]