On the authority of Omar bin Al-Khattab, who said: I heard the messenger of Alláh (ṣallá lláhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) say:
“Actions are but by intention and every man shall have but that which he intended. Thus he whose migration was for Alláh and His messenger, his migration was for Alláh and His messenger, and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take some woman in marriage, his migration was for that for which he migrated.”
related by Bukhari and Muslim
Also on the authority of Omar, who said: One day while we were sitting with the messenger of Alláh there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down by the prophet. Resting his knees against his and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs, he said: “O Muḥammad, tell me about Islam.” The messenger of Alláh said: “Islam is to testify that there is no god but Alláh and Muḥammad is the messenger of Alláh, to perform the prayers, to pay the zakat, to fast in Ramaḍán, and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so.” He said: “You have spoken rightly,” and we were amazed at him asking him and saying that he had spoken rightly. He said: “Then tell me about iman.” He said: “It is to believe in Alláh, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof.” He said: “You have spoken rightly.” He said: “Then tell me about ihsan.” He said: “It is to worship Alláh as though you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not yet truly He sees you.” He said: “Then tell me about the Hour.” He said: “The one questioned about it knows no better than the questioner.” He said: “Then tell me about its signs.” He said: “That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and that you will see the barefooted, naked, destitute herdsman competing in constructing lofty buildings.” Then he took himself off and I stayed for a time. Then he said: “O Omar, do you know who the questioner was?” I said: “Alláh and His messenger know best”. He said: “He was Jebreel (Gabriel), who came to you to teach you your religion.”
narrated by Muslim
On the authority of Ibn Omar, the son of Omar bin Al-Khattab, may Alláh be pleased with both, who said: I heared the messenger of Alláh say:
“Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god but Alláh and that Muḥammad is the messenger of Alláh, performing the prayers, paying the zakat, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramaḍán.”
related by Bukhari and Muslim
On the authority of ‘Abdu’lláh bin Masud, who said: the messenger of Alláh, and he is the truthful, the believed narrated to us:
“Verily the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s belly for forty days in the form of seed, then he is a clot of blood for a like period, then a morsel of flesh for a like period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows the breath of life into him and who is commanded about four matters: to write down his means of livelihood, his life span, his actions, and whether happy or unhappy. By Alláh, other than Whom there is no god, verily one of you behaves like the people of Paradise until there is but an arm’s length between him and it, and that which has been written over takes him and so he behaves like the people of Hell-fire and thus he enters it; and one of you behaves like the people of Hell-fire until there is but an arm’s length between him and it, and that which has been written over takes him and so he behaves like the people of Paradise and thus he enters it.”
related by Bukhari and Muslim
On the authority of Aishah, who said: The messenger of Alláh said:
“He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it will have it rejected.”