Qadi Iyad narrates the story of a Muslim king from Khurasan. His name was Amir ibn al-Layth but he was known as as-Safaar and he was famous for being one of their brave heroes1. After he passed away, he was seen by someone in a dream and he was asked:
What happened to you? What did Allah do with you?
The King replied:
He forgave me
He was asked:
On account of what (did He forgive you)?
The King replied:
I climbed to the top of a mountain one day, and looked down at my armies, and was so pleased at the large number (of soldiers). At that point I wished that I could have been present with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (during a battle) so I could help him and support him.
Due to this, Allah thanked me and forgave me.
al-Shifa of Qadi Iyad
Mulla Ali Qari says in his commentary of al-Shifa that he received this praise and forgiveness from Allah due to his sincere intention2.
The King from Khurasan intended that had he been present at the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he would have helped him. Due to his sincere intention, he was rewarded as if he did actually help the Prophet ﷺ. This is in line with the famous Hadith:
“Actions are only by intentions and every man shall have only that which he intended.
Bukhari and Muslim
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:
“Whosoever intended to perform a good deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended to perform it and then did perform it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as ten good deeds up to seven hundred times, up to many times multiplied.
And if he intended to perform an evil deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended to do it [the evil deed] and then performed it, then Allah writes it down as only one evil deed.”
Bukhari and Muslim
Footnotes
- He was one of the rulers of the Saffarid dynasty
- Sharh al-Shifa, Mulla Ali Qari, page 62 (volume 2)
Orthodox Muslim 