Understanding the Importance of Intention Before Prayer in Islam

The Significance of Intention (Niyyah) in Islamic Prayer

IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION OF INTENTION BEFORE PRAYER.

Sheikh ibn Uthaymīn (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said:

Having the right Intention is one of the preconditions for the acceptance of the Prayer; the Prayer will not be valid without it, and it is – in the actual sense -, a difficult thing.

Every sensible and free individual who carries out any deed has actually intended it. So it does not require exhaustion or even utterance; its place is in the hearts: “Actions have intentions”; and for the reason that the Prophet (ﷺ) never uttered the intentions, neither did any of his companions such that he would approve it. So, uttering the intention is Innovation; this is the most preponderant view.

Imagine watching the Prophet (ﷺ) observing the Prayer along with his companions – may ALLĀH be pleased with them all – and none of them utters the intention, saying, “O ALLĀH! I intend to observe the Prayer”!

However, as we know that the Prayer are of different forms: General supererogatory Prayer and Specific Supererogatory Prayer and the Obligatory ones.

The Obligatory Prayers are five: Fajr, Dhuhur, Asr, Magrib and the ‘Ishaa. If you come to the mosque during the time for Fajr; what do you want to observe? Would you want to observe the Magrib?! No; you rather want to observe the Fajr. You came and said Allāhu Akbar (ALLĀH is the Greatest) to commence the Prayer intending to observe the Prayer; but it escapes your mind that it is Fajr Prayer.

There is an issue: When you come and say Allāhu Akbar, and then you forget which Prayer you want to observe; and this happens many times, especially if you come hurriedly fearing that you may miss the unit. For instance, you came and said Allāhu Akbar (ALLĀH is the Greatest) while not paying attention that you’re observing the Fajr Prayer. In that circumstance, there is no blame, observing the Prayer at its time indicates which Prayer you’re observing. Thus, if any person asks you, “Did you intend to observe Dhuhur or Asr or Magrib or ‘Ishaa?” You would certainly say, “No, never; I only intended the Fajr Prayer!”

Therefore, there is no need for me to think that it is Fajr. Rightly; if I intended to observe the Fajr that is better, but at times, specifying escapes the mind; and so we say, “The time will specify it.”

Hence, specifying the Obligatory Prayers could be in two ways:

First: That he actually intends the particular Prayer in his mind; like intending the Dhuhur prayer. And that is clear.

Second: The time; as long as you perform the Prayer during that time, then it is the Prayer.

This second way is with regards to the Prayer being observed at its time. If the individual has other Prayers on him, such as if he sleeps one whole day and does not observe the Dhuhur, Asr and Magrib Prayers, in that case, if he wants to repay the Prayers he must specify each of them because he is not observing them at their times.

As for the specified supererogatory prayers such as the witr and the two units of fore-noon and the recommended Prayers before and after the five daily obligatory Prayers, these ones must be specified; although, with the heart and not on the tongue. If you want to observe the Witr Prayer – for example -, and you say Allāhu Akbar to commence the Prayer not intending the Witr except when the Prayer was already in progress, this is not right because the Witr is a specific Prayer. And the specific supererogatory Prayers must be specifically intended.

But as regards the general supererogatory Prayers, they do not require any other than a general intention for Prayer because such is necessary such as the individual who during the forenoon, makes the Ablution intending to make units of Prayers as ALLĀH wills. We say: The general intention for Prayer suffices. And that is for the fact that it is an unspecified Prayer.

{Sharh Riyādhus-Saliḥīn || 1/370-372}