The Purpose of Intention

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

What is the purpose of intention (Niyyah)?

The purpose of intention is to:

1. Distinguish for whom it is being done.

2. And to distinguish between the various actions.

1. For whom is it being done: Niyyah is for the purpose of differentiating the objectives in the performance of deeds.

Example:

a) Was the action performed sincerely for the sake of Allaah تعالى alone without associating any partners?

{وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّـهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ}

{And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allaah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salaah (the prayers) and give Zakaah (obligatory charity), and that is the right religion.} [Surah al-Bayyinah (98):5]

 OR b) was it done partially for Allaah and partially for other than Him?

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Allaah said: {I am most independent and free from needing any associates. Whoever performs a deed while associating partners with me (doing so for others along with Me), I shall abandon him along with his setting up of associates to Me (shirk)}” [Saheeh Muslim (7114)]

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: A man said: Messenger of Allaah! A man wishes to take part in jihad in Allaah’s path desiring some worldly advantage? The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “He will have no reward.” The people thought it terrible, and they said to the man: Go back to the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم, for you might not have made him understand well. He, therefore, (went and again) asked: Messenger of Allaah, a man wishes to take part in jihad in Allaah’s path desiring some worldly advantage? He صلى الله عليه وسلم replied: “There is no reward for him.” They again said to the man: Return to the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He, therefore, said to him third time. He صلى الله عليه وسلم replied: “There is no reward for him.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (2516) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Shaikh Ahmad Shaakir graded it “Saheeh” in Musnad Ahmad (15/16)]

OR c) was it done completely for other than Allaah?

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “If anyone acquires knowledge of things by which Allaah's good pleasure is sought, but acquires it only to get some worldly advantage, he will not experience the `arf (the odor) of Paradise.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (3664), Ibn Maajah (252) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

2. Distinguishing between the various acts: The other purpose of the Niyyah is:

a. To differentiate between the various acts of `Ibaadah: Example: to differentiates between Dhuhr prayer and `Asr prayer; or to differentiate between Zakaah (which is obligatory) and Sadaqah (which is optional); or to differentiate between the Fasting of the month of Ramadhaan and the optional fasting other than that of Ramadhaan.

b. To differentiate between actions of worship and actions which are habits or actions which happen by accident: Example: to differentiate when the person is washing from ceremonial impurity and when he is washing for cooling down. Similarly, when a person who is ceremonially impure falls into water and then prays; his prayer is invalid due to his intention. He did not intend to worship but rather he only fell by accident.