Intention

The best action is the true intention.

رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله :  يا أيُّها النّاسُ، إنّما الأعمالُ بالنِّيّاتِ ، وإنّما لِكُلِّ امرئٍ ما نَوى‏ ، فمَن كانَت هِجرَتُهُ إلَى اللَّهِ ورَسولِهِ فهِجرَتُهُ إلَى اللَّهِ ورَسولِهِ ، ومَن كانَت هِجرَتُهُ إلى‏ دُنيا يُصيبُها أوِ امرأةٍ يَتَزَوَّجُها فهِجرَتُهُ إلى‏ ما هاجَرَ إلَيهِ . كنز العمّال : 7272 .

 The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'O people, actions are according to intentions, and every person will have what he intended. So, whoever's migration was to Allah and His Messenger then his migration is to Allah and His Messenger, and whoever's migration was to the world to gain from it, or to a woman to marry her, then their migration will be to whatever they migrated to.' Kanz al-Ummal, no. 7261

 رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله :  تَرَكنا في المَدينَةِ أقواماً لا نَقطَعُ وادِياً ولا نَصعَدُ صُعوداً ولا نَهبِطُ هُبوطاً إلّا كانُوا مَعَنا . قالُوا : كَيفَ يَكونونَ مَعَنا ولَم يَشهَدوا ؟! قالَ : نِيّاتُهُم . كنز العمّال : 7261 .

 The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'We left groups of people in Madinah, while there was 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

رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله :  يا أبا ذرٍّ ، هِمَّ بالحَسَنَةِ وإن لَم تَعمَلْها ، لِكَيلا تُكتَبَ مِن الغافِلينَ . مكارم الأخلاق : 2 / 378 / 2661 .

 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

رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله :  نِيَّةُ المُؤمنِ خَيرٌ مِن عَمَلِهِ ، ونِيَّةُ الكافِرِ شَرٌّ مِن عَمَلِهِ، وكُلُّ عامِلٍ يَعمَلُ على‏ نِيَّتِهِ . الكافي : 2 / 84 / 2 .

 The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The intention of the believer is better than his action, and the intention of the disbeliever is worse than his action, and every doer does according to his intention.' al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 84, no. 2

رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله :  نِيَّةُ المُؤمنِ أبلَغُ مِن عَمَلِهِ ، وكذلكَ الفاجِرُ . الأمالي للطوسيّ : 454 / 1013 .

 The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The intention of a believer is more effective than his action, and same with the evildoer.' Amali al-Tusi, p. 454, no. 1013

رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله :  يا أبا ذرٍّ ، لِيَكُن لَكَ في كُلِّ شَي‏ءٍ نِيَّةٌ صالِحَةٌ ، حتّى‏ في النَّومِ والأكلِ . مكارم الأخلاق : 2 / 370 / 2661 .

 The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'O Abu Dharr, you should have a righteous intention in everything you do, even in sleeping and eating.' Makarim al-Akhlaq, v. 2, p. 370, no. 2661

رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله :  أفضَلُ العَمَلِ النِّيَّةُ الصّادِقَةُ . كنز العمّال : 7238 .

 The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The best action is the true intention.' Kanz al-Ummal, no. 7238