The Power of Intention in Islam and How to use it!

Intention is the root of every action we do. It is the reflection of our motives of why we plan an action or do it. We tend to prepare lists and lists of To Do’s and we spend a lot of time crafting and constructing those lists. However, we tend to forget to take a step back and search for the intentions that lead us to perform those acts, or achieve those goals before embarking on such lists.

The Heart is Where the Intention is Formed

The intention can be defined as the essence of the deed and its supporting pillar. It is the foundation for every action and it is one of the conditions which have to be fulfilled in order for the deed to be complete.

Most acts of worship and obligatory duties such as prayer, fasting, Hajj and Zakat in Islam require a Muslim’s resolve to have the intention in his heart and devotion to work for Allah’s sake, without seeking any worldly gains.

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“إنما الأعمال بالنيات وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى، فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله، فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله، ومن كانت هجرته لدنيا يصيبها أو امرأة ينكحها، فهجرته إلى ما هاجر إليه.”

Our hearts has such a significant influence on our bodies, as well as on our intentions. Hence, it is important to make sure that our hearts are in a pure state so as to avoid intending any harm for ourselves and for others.

One of the ways to keep our hearts and intention true to Allah is to recite a supplication that was practiced by Prophet Muhammad.

‏”‏ اللَّهُمَّ مُصَرِّفَ الْقُلُوبِ صَرِّفْ قُلُوبَنَا عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ ‏”‏‏

‘O Allah! The controller of the hearts, direct our hearts to Your obedience.’

Rules and Provisions

In order for our intent to be valid and acceptable, it must meet some basic conditions, which are:

The person needs to be a Muslim who believes in the existence of Allah, a sane, adult who is responsible for his acts. The person needs to be fully aware of what he intends to do, and if he intends to fast, he must have all the necessary information about fasting and its conditions.

Finally, a Muslim should abstain from any action that could spoil or negate his intention. Intention doesn’t require declaration by tongue, only need to be acknowledged by the heart.

Types of Intention in Islam

The intention is closely related to most acts of worship. Most of the obligatory duties require the presence of an intention, such as:

Ablution: A Muslim must intend to lift the hadeeth and ablution for prayer.

Prayer: The pronunciation of the intention does not require only recalling it.

Ihram for Hajj and Umrah: The intention to perform Hajj and Umrah is not only the resolve in the heart but includes Ihram.

Fasting: It is not valid without a prior intention.

Indeed, when we are aware of the intention of our actions and goals, it helps us to be objective. We tend to be more conscious of the things that will help us to achieve our goals and things that hinder them. Our intention also help direct us on what needs to be done and how things should be done. This reflects our principles and values.