He says that he hears some people, especially the Egyptian brothers, say when the time for prayer arrives: “O Allah, I intend to pray for You such and such a prayer,” and he mentions the prayer.
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The questioner : His last question: He says that he hears some people, especially the Egyptian brothers, say when the time for prayer arrives: “O Allah, I intend to pray for You such and such a prayer,” and he mentions the prayer as an obligatory present prayer of four rak'ahs or three rak'ahs if it is the Maghrib prayer. Is this statement correct or not?
The Shaykh : This statement is not correct, and speaking the intention was not known in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or the time of the righteous predecessors.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is something that people have innovated, and there is no need for it, because the place of the intention is the heart, and Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is aware of what is in the hearts of His servants. You do not want to stand before One who does not know so that you would speak of what you intend for Him to know.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Rather, you want to stand before One who knows what your soul whispers, and who knows your future, your past, and your present. So, speaking the intention is among the matters that were not known to the righteous predecessors. If it had been good, they would have preceded us to it. Therefore, a person should not speak his intention, neither in prayer nor in other acts of worship.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Not in secret or in public. Yes.
The questioner : From Sa'id Yahya Muhammad al-Rithi. This message reached us from the Qur'an memorization school in the land of al-Rith.
The Shaykh : This statement is not correct, and speaking the intention was not known in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or the time of the righteous predecessors.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is something that people have innovated, and there is no need for it, because the place of the intention is the heart, and Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is aware of what is in the hearts of His servants. You do not want to stand before One who does not know so that you would speak of what you intend for Him to know.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Rather, you want to stand before One who knows what your soul whispers, and who knows your future, your past, and your present. So, speaking the intention is among the matters that were not known to the righteous predecessors. If it had been good, they would have preceded us to it. Therefore, a person should not speak his intention, neither in prayer nor in other acts of worship.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Not in secret or in public. Yes.
The questioner : From Sa'id Yahya Muhammad al-Rithi. This message reached us from the Qur'an memorization school in the land of al-Rith.