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Narrated ‘Umar (bin Al-Khattaab): Allaah’s Messenger said, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intention and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended, So whoever emigrated for Allaah and His Messenger then his emigration was for Allaah and His Apostle. And whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was what he emigrated for.”

Bwilliam:
Why was the prophet given special exemption on the rulings, and allowed to marry more than 4 wives?

All the other Prophets before him were bound to the same rule that their God gave the people to follow, even Prophet David being also a king, was punished when he broke the law by taking another man's wife and killing him.

Lukgaf:
Today, let's review the first hadith in Umdatul Ahkam. For past review, see here



Fiqh of the Hadith
The Prophet said this on the occasion of someone’s emigration from Makkah to Madeenah not for the sake of the Islamic Cause but to marry a woman who was called Ummul Qays, who had stipulated that he should emigrate if he wanted to marry her. Hence, he did migrate to Madeenah, and was titled emigrant of Ummul Qays because he married her. This hadeeth forms the sum and substance of the teaching of
Islam. It is one of the fundamental principles of law in all ages. This hadeeth implies a general principle, i.e. one is rewarded for his deeds according to his real intentions not according to his actual deeds, which might be good in them but motivated, by an ill
intention. The rewards for the Emigrants differ according to their intentions, i.e. whether they emigrated for worldly benefits or for
the Pleasure of Allaah and His Messenger. The acceptance of an action for reward by Allaah depends on the nature of an intention for which an action is done. If the intention working behind and action is sincere and the action is done for seeking the countenance of Allaah, the action is accepted and rewarded by Allaah. Contrary to it, if the motive behind an action is to gain some worldly benefits or earn a good name in the world and there is no bit of sincerity in seeking the pleasures of Allaah, then the action will have no worth and weight in the Hereafter. Instead, the man will be punished for such action, as it is not based on good intention. In the Hereafter, everyone will be judged according to his intentions.

Significance of sincere intention in the life
The main object of the life of a Muslim, from the beginning to the end, is to achieve the pleasure of Allaah. All his energies should, therefore, be directed to the achievement of this single goal. The deed, however noble it may superficially appear, or task, however great and useful it may seem to the people, has no value in Islam if it is not done or undertaken purely for the love of Allaah. The work done for other means and ends, besides seeking the pleasure of Allaah, is valueless in Islam. Unfortunately, however, form has been more important nowadays than spirit, and religion has now become an unimportant thing in the life of human beings.

This hadeeth is considered to be one of the great principles of the Divine Faith. It purifies the heart of a man from all kinds of impurities, e.g., mannerism, showing off, ignoble pursuits of life, love for wealth, power, pride, and vanity, and makes him a silent, honest, and untiring worker in the cause of Allaah, absolutely free from the love of low desires. This hadeeth also solves one of the problems of ethics pertaining to the relationship of ends and means.

Bwilliam:
Why was the prophet given special exemption on the rulings, and allowed to marry more than 4 wives?

All the other Prophets before him were bound to the same rule that their God gave the people to follow, even Prophet David being also a king, was punished when he broke the law by taking another man's wife and killing him.

disco82:
The hadith has nothing to do with polygamy or marry 4 wifes or killing somebody. Its about deeds and intention. Also Several prophets marry more than one wife before muhammed, so the issue of exception is not here