The Significance of Intentions in Islam

1. Intentions (Niyyah) Module 4 – Circle 1

2. What are Intentions? An intention is defined as an aim that guides action. For example, if you go to visit your friend, you may have intended to visit them to cheer them up, to talk to them about a problem you have, to play with them or to pray Salah. Nearly every action we do has an intention associated with it. Module 4 – Circle 1

3. Are intentions important for Muslims? `Umar ibn. al-Khattâb, relates that he heard Allah's Messenger pbuh say: "Actions are but by intentions and every man will have only what he intended. So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger, then his emigration was for Allah and His Messenger. And whoever emigrated to attain something of this world or to marry a woman, then his emigration was for whatever reason he emigrated." [Bukhârî] Module 4 – Circle 1

4. How does Allah swt know our intentions? “Certainly, Allah does not look at your shapes or wealth. But He only looks at your heart and deeds.” [Bukhari and Muslim] Module 4 – Circle 1

5. Should you make an intention before you do any act of worship? The barakah (blessing) of making a sound intention at the beginning of a good deed is that it creates awareness in our heart of performing that deed and if we can become aware in the beginning inshaAllah that will carryout throughout the ibadah and we will have more khushoo (sincerity) in our worship. Module 4 – Circle 1

6. What if you don’t think about your intention? If we do a good deed [e.g. praying, performing wudu etc] but don’t make any intention in our heart before it, the act of worship becomes merely a ritual. The massive reward that we could have got from these acts is reduced, since we did not make the correct intention. Module 4 – Circle 1

7. Do you need to physically say the intention for it to be valid? It is not necessary to say the intention with the tongue as long as a firm intention has been made in the heart. Some scholars may differ in their opinion on this matter. Module 4 – Circle 1

8. Can a bad intention transform a permissible action? “The one who marries based on a dowery that he has no intention of paying is, in fact, a fornicator. And one, who takes a loan that he has no intention of repaying is, in fact, a thief.” [Ahmad] Module 4 – Circle 1

9. Are you rewarded if you intend on doing a good deed and then do not carrying it out? At the Battle of Tabook, Allah's Messenger pbuh said: "There are people concerning whom you do not travel any distance, nor do you spend anything, nor do you pass any valley but they are with you in that matter." The people said, "How is that?" He  said, "They have been restrained due to some excuse, but they are with us because of the good intention." [Bukhari] Module 4 – Circle 1

10. What if you Intend on doing a bad deed and then do not carrying it out? Narrated ‘Abdullâh bin ‘Abbâs : Allah’s Messenger pbuh said that Allah the Glorious said, “Verily, Allah has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down. Then He explained it clearly how (to write):He who intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allah records it for him as a full good deed, but if he carries out his intention, the Glorious and the Great Allah writes it down for him with Him as from ten to seven hundred times, and even many times more. But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed. (Al-Bukhâri and Muslim) Module 4 – Circle 1

11. Multiple intentions = Multiple reward! Making Multiple intentions: one way in which we can multiply the positive effect of our good deeds and gain maximum rewards from it is by making multiple intentions, the more intentions that we can attach to the deed, the more reward we can expect to attain from the act, inshaAllah. For e.g. When we go to the Masjid, instead of just making an intention of going to pray namaz, we can make so many additional niyyahs for the same act: for instance we can make intention of doing i’tikaf, being in a sinless environment, to be in the company of pious people[saaliheen] etc. Module 4 – Circle 1

12. Neutral Intentions These are the mundane acts that we perform normally in our everyday routine unthinkingly. Niyyah is such an incredible tool that it can spin these neutral acts into acts of worship or righteous actions simply by making an intention which would connect that act to Allah swt. Module 4 – Circle 1

13. A bad intention can lead to you committing Shirk! Abu Hurairah Related: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) say: The first of men (whose case) will be decided on the Day of Judgment will be a man who died as a martyr. He shall be brought and Allah will make him recount His blessings (i. e. the blessings which He had bestowed upon him) and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his life). (Then) will Allah say: What did you do (to requite these blessings)? He will say: I fought for Thee until I died as a martyr. Allah will say: You have told a lie. You fought that you might be called a" brave warrior". And you were called so. (Then) orders will be passed against him and he will be dragged with his face downward and cast into Hell. Then will be brought forward a man who acquired knowledge and imparted it (to others) and recited the Qur'an. He will be brought And Allah will make him recount His blessings and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Then will Allah ask: What did you do (to requite these blessings)? He will say: I acquired knowledge and disseminated it and recited the Qur'an seeking Thy pleasure. Allah will say: You have told a lie. You acquired knowledge so that you might be called" a scholar," and you recited the Qur'an so that it might be said:" He is a Qari" and such has been said. Then orders will be passed against him and he shall be dragged with his face downward and cast into the Fire. Then will be brought a man whom Allah had made abundantly rich and had granted every kind of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make him recount His blessings and he will recount them and (admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Allah will (then) ask: What have you done (to requite these blessings)? He will say: I spent money in every cause in which Thou wished that it should be spent. Allah will say: You are lying. You did (so) that it might be said about (You):" He is a generous fellow" and so it was said. Then will Allah pass orders and he will be dragged with his face downward and thrown into Hell. (Muslim, Book 20, 4688) Module 4 – Circle 1

14. Can Procrastination be an excuse on the Last Day? “On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) Profit him? He will say: "Alas! Would that I had sent forth (good deeds) for (this) my life!" [89:23:24] Module 4 – Circle 1