Read each Hadith below with title, narrator, Arabic text, English text, practical life application, and reference.
1)
Actions Are Judged by Intentions
Narrated by ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ ، قَالَ : أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيُّ ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنَ وَقَّاصٍ اللَّيْثِيَّ ، يَقُولُ : سَمِعْتُ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، يَقُولُ : " إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى، فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى دُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوْ إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ يَنْكِحُهَا، فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ "
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."
How to Apply This in Life
Use this Hadith before every important deed, especially prayer, fasting, charity, study, work, helping others, and any public act that may invite praise. It teaches a person to check the heart before acting. A deed done for image, status, approval, money, or personal gain may still happen outwardly, but its value before Allah changes completely. This Hadith also teaches that even ordinary responsibilities, such as earning for one’s family or serving people, can become reward if the intention is sincere.
ReferenceSahih al-Bukhari 1
In-bookBook 1, Hadith 1
USC-MSAVol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 1
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2)
How Revelation Came to the Prophet ﷺ
Narrated by ‘Aisha
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ الْحَارِثَ بْنَ هِشَامٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ يَأْتِيكَ الْوَحْىُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَحْيَانًا يَأْتِينِي مِثْلَ صَلْصَلَةِ الْجَرَسِ ـ وَهُوَ أَشَدُّهُ عَلَىَّ ـ فَيُفْصَمُ عَنِّي وَقَدْ وَعَيْتُ عَنْهُ مَا قَالَ، وَأَحْيَانًا يَتَمَثَّلُ لِيَ الْمَلَكُ رَجُلاً فَيُكَلِّمُنِي فَأَعِي مَا يَقُولُ ". قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ رضى الله عنها وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ يَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِ الْوَحْىُ فِي الْيَوْمِ الشَّدِيدِ الْبَرْدِ، فَيَفْصِمُ عَنْهُ وَإِنَّ جَبِينَهُ لَيَتَفَصَّدُ عَرَقًا.
(the mother of the faithful believers) Al-Harith bin Hisham asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says." 'Aisha added: Verily I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) being inspired divinely on a very cold day and noticed the sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over).
How to Apply This in Life
This Hadith should increase respect for revelation and for the burden carried by the Prophet ﷺ. Apply it when reading Qur’an, learning Hadith, teaching religion, or speaking casually about revelation. It reminds a person that divine guidance came with weight, effort, and seriousness, not as a light or casual idea. It should also teach humility: if revelation came with such gravity, then receiving religious knowledge should make a person more careful, more grateful, and less careless in speech and action.
ReferenceSahih al-Bukhari 2
In-bookBook 1, Hadith 2
USC-MSAVol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 2
NoteDeprecated numbering scheme
3)
The First Encounter in the Cave of Hira
Narrated by ‘Aisha
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ أَوَّلُ مَا بُدِئَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الْوَحْىِ الرُّؤْيَا الصَّالِحَةُ فِي النَّوْمِ، فَكَانَ لاَ يَرَى رُؤْيَا إِلاَّ جَاءَتْ مِثْلَ فَلَقِ الصُّبْحِ، ثُمَّ حُبِّبَ إِلَيْهِ الْخَلاَءُ، وَكَانَ يَخْلُو بِغَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَيَتَحَنَّثُ فِيهِ ـ وَهُوَ التَّعَبُّدُ ـ اللَّيَالِيَ ذَوَاتِ الْعَدَدِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْزِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ، وَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ، فَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِمِثْلِهَا، حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الْحَقُّ وَهُوَ فِي غَارِ حِرَاءٍ، فَجَاءَهُ الْمَلَكُ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ. قَالَ " مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ ". قَالَ " فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدَ، ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ. قُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ. فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّانِيَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدَ، ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ. فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ. فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّالِثَةَ، ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ {اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ * خَلَقَ الإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ * اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الأَكْرَمُ} ". فَرَجَعَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَرْجُفُ فُؤَادُهُ...
The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright daylight, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him... But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while.
How to Apply This in Life
This Hadith teaches a believer how Allah prepares hearts before giving them responsibility. It applies when a person feels drawn to reflection, seclusion, sincere worship, or deeper truth. It also teaches how to respond when truth arrives with weight and fear: turn to trusted, righteous support like Khadijah رضي الله عنها gave to the Prophet ﷺ. This Hadith should also shape how one values revelation itself, because it shows that the Qur’an came through real struggle, awe, preparation, and steadfastness, not through ease or entertainment.
ReferenceSahih al-Bukhari 3
In-bookBook 1, Hadith 3
USC-MSAVol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 3
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4)
Revelation Resumed After the Pause
Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah Al-Ansari
قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ وَأَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيَّ، قَالَ ـ وَهُوَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ فَتْرَةِ الْوَحْىِ...
"While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky... After this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly."
How to Apply This in Life
This Hadith applies when a person is called to responsibility after a period of uncertainty, fear, or waiting. It teaches that divine guidance may come with intensity, but once the command becomes clear, one must rise and act. It also teaches that fear itself is not failure.
ReferenceSahih al-Bukhari 4
In-bookBook 1, Hadith 4
USC-MSAVol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 4
NoteDeprecated numbering scheme
5)
Do Not Hasten with the Revelation
Narrated by Sa‘id bin Jubair from Ibn ‘Abbas
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ...
Ibn 'Abbas in the explanation of the statement of Allah "Move not your tongue concerning (the Quran) to make haste therewith." (75.16) said...
How to Apply This in Life
This Hadith teaches patience, listening, and trust when receiving sacred knowledge. It applies when learning Qur’an, memorizing, studying, or trying to grasp something important too quickly.
ReferenceSahih al-Bukhari 5
In-bookBook 1, Hadith 5
USC-MSAVol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 5
NoteDeprecated numbering scheme
6)
The Prophet ﷺ and Ramadan with Jibril
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ...
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel met him...
How to Apply This in Life
This Hadith should be applied especially in Ramadan, in Qur’an revision, and in acts of generosity. It teaches that connection with revelation should soften the heart and increase giving.
ReferenceSahih al-Bukhari 6
In-bookBook 1, Hadith 6
USC-MSAVol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 6
NoteDeprecated numbering scheme
7)
Heraclius Questions Abu Sufyan About the Prophet ﷺ
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ الْحَكَمُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ...
Abu Sufyan bin Harb informed me that Heraclius had sent a messenger to him while he had been accompanying a caravan from Quraish... and this was the end of Heraclius's story (in connection with his faith).
How to Apply This in Life
This Hadith applies when evaluating truth claims, religious leadership, or the signs of a genuine prophetic mission. It teaches that truth can be recognized through consistency, character, honesty, growth of faith, and what a message calls people toward.
ReferenceSahih al-Bukhari 7
In-bookBook 1, Hadith 7
USC-MSAVol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 7
NoteDeprecated numbering scheme
