In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Shaykh
Nathim Sultan
According to
the scholars, a Mubaah (permissible) act is the act that neither brings about
reward, if performed, nor brings about punishment, if abandoned. Performing or
abandoning the Mubaah are the same. Yet, one will gain a reward if he precedes
performing a Mubaah with a good intention, such as eating with intention to be
stronger in the obedience to Allah and His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa
sallam, and one’s working in the intention that he support his family and save
himself from the humiliation of begging others, etc.
Many
scholars agree with this understanding. Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "Those who are
the closest to Allah are the ones who have their Mubaah turned into acts of
worship and into a means of approach to Allah, on account of their good Niyyah.
They no longer have a Mubaah that is equal on both side (where doing or
abandoning it are the same). All their deeds are leaning to one side, (that is,
they always gain a reward)." Also, ibn Al-Hajj Al-Maliki said, "With
the Niyyah, Al-Mubaah may become a Mandoob (preferred act). And if we can
precede an act with a Niyyah similar to that which precedes performing an
obligation, it will be even better in this case, because of the Qudsi Hadith,
‘And My slave will not perform any act of worship better in My Sight than doing
that which I have obliged on him.’ [al-Bukhari" Also, An-Nawawi said, in
his book, Al-Arba`un an-Nawawiyyah, about this Hadith (#25 of the Forty Nawawi
Hadiths), "This Hadith proves that Al-Mubaah acts will be turned into acts
of worship if accompanied by good intentions. Sexual intercourse (for example)
becomes an act of worship if one intends by it to satisfy and fulfill his
wife’s rights, to live with her in a way that is better, to seek an offspring
and to help himself and his wife to preserve their honor and to avoid looking
at, thinking about or intending to commit any impermissible act, etc."
What gives
further proof to the validity of these sayings by the respected scholars, is
the Hadith by the Prophet to Saa`d ibn Abi Waqqas, "You will not give away
a charity with which you seek Allah’s Face, but you will gain a reward for it,
including what you put in your wife’s mouth (of food)." [Al-Bukhari &
Muslim]. After mentioning this Hadith, An-Nawawi said, "Putting a bite (of
food) in the wife’s mouth, is usually an act of fondling her. Therefore, it has
a lot to do with one’s desire. Yet, if a good intention and seeking the rewards
with Allah precede this action mentioned in this case, then this person will
gain a reward as a bounty from Allah."
Imam
As-Suyuty said, "One of the best supporting evidence that the scholar have
used to prove that the Muslim will gain a reward on account of his good
intention when performing Al-Mubaah, is the Prophet’s saying, ‘And every person
will earn that which he intended.’ Those who do this (preceding Al-Mubaah with
a good intention), will gain a reward if they intend (by their actions) to draw
closer to Allah. However, if they did not intend that, then they will not gain
any reward." Also, the Prophet said, "And one will be performing an
act of charity when he has sexual intercourse (with his wife)." The
companions said, "O Messenger of Allah! Will one be satisfying his desire
and still gain a reward?" He said, "Do you see that if he satisfies
this desire with Haraam (illegal sexual intercourse), will he carry the weight
of this evil act? Likewise, if he satisfies it with Halal (permissible means,
with the wife), he will gain a reward." [Muslim & Ahmad]
Courtesy of:
Islaam.com
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