Vocalizing the Intention for Prayer
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Question: What is the ruling on vocalizing the intention for prayer, and naming it aloud as well, such as saying: "I intend to pray Asr, four rak'ahs, for Allah the Exalted," and so on?
Answer: The intention is a condition for the validity of the prayer, as well as for all other acts of worship;As he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 1, but the intention is not vocalized. Its place is the heart, and it is one of the actions of the heart. Allah the Exalted knows the secret and what is even more hidden. There is no evidence for vocalizing the intention. Therefore, vocalizing the intention for the prayer, and for all other acts of worship, is a religious innovation (bid'ah); because it is introducing something for which there is no evidence from the Shari'ah. It is not reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I intend to pray four rak'ahs of the obligatory Zuhr or Asr," and this is not established from any of his Companions or the Rightly Guided Caliphs. So it is an introduced innovation. Intentions are in the hearts, and Allah the Exalted knows what is in the hearts, even if they are not vocalized.Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Hujurat: 16], so acts of worship are based on the text. It is not permissible to introduce anything regarding them or their attributes except with evidence; because they are based on divine legislation and text. There is no text regarding vocalizing the intention except what they mentioned in two places: when entering the state of ihram,For example, saying: saying "I intend to enter ihram with such and such," or "I intend to enter ihram with such and such,"And when slaughtering the sacrificial animal of the pilgrimage or the 'Id sacrifice, saying: and "O Allah, this is on behalf of so-and-so, or on my behalf."
In these two places, there is evidence for vocalizing the intention. Apart from these two places, vocalizing the intention is a religious innovation (bid'ah), and it is not from the way of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), nor from the way of the righteous predecessors. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Answer: The intention is a condition for the validity of the prayer, as well as for all other acts of worship;As he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.
إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوىSay, "Would you acquaint Allah with your religion while Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allah is Knowing of all things?"
قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ اللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمIn these two places, there is evidence for vocalizing the intention. Apart from these two places, vocalizing the intention is a religious innovation (bid'ah), and it is not from the way of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), nor from the way of the righteous predecessors. And Allah the Exalted knows best.