Is it permissible to change the intention in voluntary prayer? For example, I entered the prayer intending to pray four rak'ahs, but I only prayed two.
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The questioner : The listener asks: Is it permissible to change the intention in voluntary prayer? For example, I entered the prayer intending to pray four rak'ahs, but I only prayed two?
The Shaykh : Yes, this action is permissible. However, it is not permissible for a person to pray four rak'ahs with a single closing salam, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Sunan Abi Dawud 1295Sahih (Al-Albani) So if he wishes to move on and offer voluntary prayer during the day or night, let him pray two rak'ahs, two rak'ahs, with a closing salam for every two rak'ahs.
However, if one changes the intention from one prayer to another, we say that if he specifies the intention from one prayer to another, there are aspects to consider. The first aspect is changing the intention from a specific prayer to a specific prayer; this is not permissible and does not benefit. This does not benefit. For example, if he intends to change the intention after starting the Zuhr prayer, then he remembers that he prayed Fajr without ablution, for instance, and after starting the Zuhr prayer, he shifts his intention to the Fajr prayer, this is not permissible. The Zuhr prayer becomes invalid because he cut off its intention, and the Fajr prayer does not become valid because he did not intend it from the beginning with the opening takbir. So if he moves from a specific to a specific, the first is invalid and the second does not become valid.
The second aspect is moving from a general to a specific, such as starting a voluntary prayer and then remembering that he did not pray Fajr, or that he prayed it without ablution, so he intends during the voluntary prayer that it is for the Fajr prayer. This is also not valid, because a specific prayer must be intended from its beginning.
The third is moving from a specific to a general, such as starting the Witr prayer and then it occurs to him to make it a general voluntary prayer and to perform Witr at the end of the night. This is permissible, because a specific prayer actually includes two intentions: the intention of the general prayer and the intention of specification. So if he cancels the intention of specification, the intention of the general prayer remains. At that point, his transition from the specific to the general is valid, because the specific includes the general, but not vice versa. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Yes, this action is permissible. However, it is not permissible for a person to pray four rak'ahs with a single closing salam, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Prayer by night and day should consist of pairs of rak'ahs.
صلاة الليل والنهار مثنى مثنىHowever, if one changes the intention from one prayer to another, we say that if he specifies the intention from one prayer to another, there are aspects to consider. The first aspect is changing the intention from a specific prayer to a specific prayer; this is not permissible and does not benefit. This does not benefit. For example, if he intends to change the intention after starting the Zuhr prayer, then he remembers that he prayed Fajr without ablution, for instance, and after starting the Zuhr prayer, he shifts his intention to the Fajr prayer, this is not permissible. The Zuhr prayer becomes invalid because he cut off its intention, and the Fajr prayer does not become valid because he did not intend it from the beginning with the opening takbir. So if he moves from a specific to a specific, the first is invalid and the second does not become valid.
The second aspect is moving from a general to a specific, such as starting a voluntary prayer and then remembering that he did not pray Fajr, or that he prayed it without ablution, so he intends during the voluntary prayer that it is for the Fajr prayer. This is also not valid, because a specific prayer must be intended from its beginning.
The third is moving from a specific to a general, such as starting the Witr prayer and then it occurs to him to make it a general voluntary prayer and to perform Witr at the end of the night. This is permissible, because a specific prayer actually includes two intentions: the intention of the general prayer and the intention of specification. So if he cancels the intention of specification, the intention of the general prayer remains. At that point, his transition from the specific to the general is valid, because the specific includes the general, but not vice versa. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.