* Introduction
* Meaning of Intention (Niyyah).
* Intention in the Quran and Sunnah of the prophet.
* Relationship between Intention and Worships.
* Conclusion.
Introduction
in the name of Allah the most gracious the most merciful and peace and blessing of Allah be upon our prophet Muhammad and all his companions and all of his family. to proceed,
we should always praise and thank Allah the Almighty, who give us rewards according to what we intend to do and what we indeed have done.
In the life of every one, there must be goals and tasks that should have a plan and then should have done to make the person hit the point and reach his goal.
It’s definitely necessary for everyone to intend and mean what he want to do before he do it because intention is a big power for the heart which accompanies with work ,deed and effort.
That’s why we should know importance of Intention to deal with our action in a best way.
Meaning of Intention (Niyyah)
“intention” transliterated as Niyyah in the Arabic language , is an Islamic concept: the intention in one’s heart to do an act for the sake of God (Allah). Niyyah means: to intend or have a purpose doing something at any time.
It has many definitions such as,
– The determination and willing to do something that get out from within the soul or the body parts: (the soul, heart and the mind).
– The purpose and the consciousness that controls the action, if both of them with certainty in the goodness then deeds are good, and vice versa.
Intention in the Quran and Sunnah of the prophet
– Allah mentioned that in the Qur’an clearly and with a hidden meaning saying,
” Each works according to his manner, but your Lord is most knowing of who is best guided in way.” [al-Israa 84]
so, people’s deeds could may be similar in action , but it must be a variety in intention of each one.
” And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.” [al-A’raaf 56]
when a servant want to pray Allah with anything , he should have a sincere and true intention with his Du’aa and then if he was really truthful Allah will accept that from him. this is also like the verse,
” They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend.” [as-Sajdaa 16]
” And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.” [al-Bayinaa 5]
Allah commands us to sincerity in His religion-Islam- and purity in intention and purpose. His worships like, perform the prayer(Salah) and establishing Zakah; should accompanies with a pure and sincere intention only to Allah, and this could be come true if the believer submit with all his power and body to Allah the creator of everything.
– there are many Ahadith in the sunna of the prophet about intention(Niyyah); the most famous and important one in most of Ahadith books is,
It has been narrated on the authority of Umar b. al-Khattab that the Messenger of Allah )PBUH) said:
” (The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) ; and the emigration of one who emigrates for gaining a worldly advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he has emigrated.” [Sahih Muslim 33/222]
This Hadith is very important one which has many benefits and knowledge about intention and its relation to work and deeds. It can help Muslims evaluate and judge what they do and say related to all worships. Niyyah has two meanings:
– Intention before performing an ‘ibadah (Prayer, Fast, Hajj,… etc.)
– Willingness of performing an action.
This Hadith shows us the importance of intention and sincerity( Ikhlas- to truthful and honest to Allah alone). Ikhlas is one of conditions for the validity and acceptance of good deeds.
Ibn al-Qayyim says: Any action may be defective for 3 reasons:
1- To be aware of people’s observation.
2- Seeking a reward for the action.
3- Being satisfied with the action.
Relationship between Intention and Worships
The intention is a great matter, the spirit of deeds, and it has its righteousness; as the prophet [PBUH] said:
” (The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for what he intended”.
Intention’s position is only in the heart and deeds takes into account if the person intended it before his action; so, purification, prayer, fasting, Zakah, pilgrimage(Hajj) and all worships are not valid without intention.
it is so simple when we see that if the person go to do any deeds, which mean that it is because his intention related to this work.
Ibn rajab said: the validity and rewards of any deeds and worships related to sincere or pure intention. invalidity of deeds and punishment over it related to bad intention.
Conclusion
The reward over intention are going to increase whatever the person increased his intention in deeds and worships. Each person should take care about his intention in all his actions, deeds and worships; doing it only to Allah the Almighty, so that He accepts them and rewards him upon in shaa Allah.
References
1) al-ma’any Arabic-Arabic / Arabic-English Dictionary.
2) Holly Qur’an( Sahih international copy).
3) Sahih Muslim (33/222).
4) Commentary on the forty Hadith of Al-Nawawi, Dr. Jamal Ahmad Badi.
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