I have heard that verbalizing the intention is a religious innovation. Does this include verbalizing the intention when entering the state of ihram?
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh saysThe questioner : I have heard that verbalizing the intention is a religious innovation. Does this include verbalizing the intention when entering the state of ihram?
The Shaykh : Yes, verbalizing the intention is a religious innovation. For example, if a person intends to pray, he says, "O Allah, I intend to pray." If he intends to fast, he says, "O Allah, I intend to fast." If he intends to perform ablution, he says, "O Allah, I intend to perform ablution." This is a religious innovation because it was not known in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed on the issue of ihram: is it an exception to this? The correct view is that it is not an exception, and that a person should not verbalize the intention in ihram. He should not say, "O Allah, I intend to perform 'Umrah," because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say, "I intend to perform Hajj" or "I intend to perform 'Umrah." However, he says, "Labbaik 'Umrah" or "Labbaik Hajj," informing of what is in his heart and what he has resolved. This phrase follows the resolution, it does not precede it. The one who speaks the intention speaks it before he resolves to perform the act of worship. Therefore, speaking the intention is a religious innovation because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) knows what is in your heart, so there is no need to inform Him that you intend to do such and such. But some people—may Allah grant us and you well-being—are afflicted with waswas (whispers of doubt) and think that they cannot enter into an act of worship unless they verbalize the intention. To such a person, we say: treat yourself for this illness. We ask Allah to cure our brothers of it and not to afflict us with it. If this illness becomes severe in a person, it may even prevent him from praying. Some of those afflicted with waswas are unable to form the intention, and the time passes while he has not formed the intention, as he claims, because it is a trial. My advice to my Muslim brothers is not to speak their intentions, because merely their presence in the mosque is an intention, and merely their ablution for prayer is an intention. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, verbalizing the intention is a religious innovation. For example, if a person intends to pray, he says, "O Allah, I intend to pray." If he intends to fast, he says, "O Allah, I intend to fast." If he intends to perform ablution, he says, "O Allah, I intend to perform ablution." This is a religious innovation because it was not known in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed on the issue of ihram: is it an exception to this? The correct view is that it is not an exception, and that a person should not verbalize the intention in ihram. He should not say, "O Allah, I intend to perform 'Umrah," because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say, "I intend to perform Hajj" or "I intend to perform 'Umrah." However, he says, "Labbaik 'Umrah" or "Labbaik Hajj," informing of what is in his heart and what he has resolved. This phrase follows the resolution, it does not precede it. The one who speaks the intention speaks it before he resolves to perform the act of worship. Therefore, speaking the intention is a religious innovation because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) knows what is in your heart, so there is no need to inform Him that you intend to do such and such. But some people—may Allah grant us and you well-being—are afflicted with waswas (whispers of doubt) and think that they cannot enter into an act of worship unless they verbalize the intention. To such a person, we say: treat yourself for this illness. We ask Allah to cure our brothers of it and not to afflict us with it. If this illness becomes severe in a person, it may even prevent him from praying. Some of those afflicted with waswas are unable to form the intention, and the time passes while he has not formed the intention, as he claims, because it is a trial. My advice to my Muslim brothers is not to speak their intentions, because merely their presence in the mosque is an intention, and merely their ablution for prayer is an intention. Yes.