Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "."
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The chapter on the sincerity of intention for Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and keeping that in mind in all words, actions, and states, whether apparent or hidden": The place of intention is the heart, and it has no place on the tongue in all actions. For this reason, whoever verbalizes the intention when intending to pray, fast, perform Hajj, perform wudu, or do any other act is an innovator, saying in the religion of Allah what is not part of it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would perform wudu, pray, give charity, fast, and perform Hajj, and he did not verbalize the intention. He did not say: "O Allah, I intend to perform wudu," "O Allah, I intend to pray," "O Allah, I intend to give charity," "O Allah, I intend to fast," or "O Allah, I intend to perform Hajj." He did not say these things, because the place of intention is the heart, and Allah the Mighty and Majestic knows what is in the heart, and nothing is hidden from Him, as Allah the Exalted said in the verse the author quoted:[Ali 'Imran 3:29].
It is obligatory for a person to make his intention sincere for Allah the Exalted and Sublime in all his acts of worship, and not to intend anything in his worship except the Face of Allah and the Hereafter. This is what Allah commanded in His saying:[Al-Bayyinah 98:5], meaning: making their work sincere for Him . It is recommended that one keep the intention in mind, meaning the intention of sincerity, in all acts of worship. For example, one intends wudu and that he is performing wudu for Allah, and that he is performing wudu in obedience to the command of Allah. These are three things: the intention of the act of worship, the intention that it is for Allah, and the intention that he performed it in obedience to the command of Allah. This is the most complete thing in intention. Similarly, in prayer, one intends the prayer and that it is the Dhuhr, or Asr, or Maghrib, or Isha, or Fajr, or the like. One intends that one is praying for Allah the Mighty and Majestic and for no one else, not praying for showing off or for reputation, not to be praised for one's prayer, and not to gain anything of wealth or worldly life. Thirdly: one keeps in mind that one is praying in obedience to the command of one's Lord, where He said: , , and other such commands.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned several verses, all of which indicate that the place of intention is the heart, and that Allah the Exalted and Sublime is aware of the servant's intention. Perhaps a servant performs an act that appears before people to be a righteous deed, but it is a defective deed, spoiled by the intention, because Allah the Exalted knows what is in the heart, and a person is not rewarded on the Day of Resurrection except for what is in his heart, as Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tariq 86:8-10], meaning: the day when the hidden secrets and the inner hearts are tested, as in His saying: [Al-'Adiyat 100:9-10]. So in the Hereafter, the reward and punishment, the deed and the consideration, are based on what is in the heart. As for in this world, the consideration is based on what appears, so people are dealt with according to the outward appearance of their states. But if these outward appearances agree with what is in the inner selves, then his outward and inward, his secret and his public, are sound. And if they disagree, and the heart is harboring a defective intention—we seek refuge in Allah—how great is his loss! He works and toils, but he has no share in this deed, as came in the authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 2985. So beware of Allah, O brothers, in making your intention sincere for Allah the Exalted and Sublime.
Know that Satan may come to you when you intend to do a good deed and say to you: "You are only doing this for showing off." He will frustrate you, frustrate your enthusiasm, and discourage you. But do not pay attention to this, do not obey him. Do the deed even if he says to you: "You are only doing it for showing off or for reputation." Because if you were asked, "Are you doing this deed now for showing off or for reputation?" you would say: "No." So this is the whispering that Satan has put into your heart; do not pay attention to it. Do good and do not say: "I am showing off" or the like. And Allah is the One who grants success.
The reciter: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The chapter on the sincerity of intention for Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and keeping that in mind in all words, actions, and states, whether apparent or hidden": The place of intention is the heart, and it has no place on the tongue in all actions. For this reason, whoever verbalizes the intention when intending to pray, fast, perform Hajj, perform wudu, or do any other act is an innovator, saying in the religion of Allah what is not part of it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would perform wudu, pray, give charity, fast, and perform Hajj, and he did not verbalize the intention. He did not say: "O Allah, I intend to perform wudu," "O Allah, I intend to pray," "O Allah, I intend to give charity," "O Allah, I intend to fast," or "O Allah, I intend to perform Hajj." He did not say these things, because the place of intention is the heart, and Allah the Mighty and Majestic knows what is in the heart, and nothing is hidden from Him, as Allah the Exalted said in the verse the author quoted:
Say, "Whether you conceal what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it.
قل إن تخفوا ما في صدوركم أو تبدوه يعلمه اللهIt is obligatory for a person to make his intention sincere for Allah the Exalted and Sublime in all his acts of worship, and not to intend anything in his worship except the Face of Allah and the Hereafter. This is what Allah commanded in His saying:
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion
وما أمروا إلا ليعبدوا الله مخلصين له الدينand establish prayer and give zakah, and that is the religion of righteousness
ويقيموا الصلاة ويؤتوا الزكاة وذلك دين القيمةEstablish prayer
أقم الصلاةSo when you feel secure, establish prayer
فإذا اطمئننتم فأقيموا الصلاةAnd establish prayer and give zakah
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَThe author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned several verses, all of which indicate that the place of intention is the heart, and that Allah the Exalted and Sublime is aware of the servant's intention. Perhaps a servant performs an act that appears before people to be a righteous deed, but it is a defective deed, spoiled by the intention, because Allah the Exalted knows what is in the heart, and a person is not rewarded on the Day of Resurrection except for what is in his heart, as Allah the Exalted said:
(8) Indeed, Allah, to return him [to life], is Able. (9) The Day when secrets will be put on trial, (10) Then man will have no power or any helper.
إِنَّهُ عَلَى رَجْعِهِ لَقَادِرٌ * يَوْمَ تُبْلَى السَّرَائِرُ * فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَلا نَاصِرٍ(9) But does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered (10) And that within the breasts is obtained,
أَفَلا يَعْلَمُ إِذَا بُعْثِرَ مَا فِي الْقُبُورِ * وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِي الصُّدُورِAllah the Most High and Exalted said: I am the One, One Who does not stand in need of a partner. If anyone does anything in which he associates anyone else with Me, I shall abandon him with one whom he associates with Allah.
أن الله قال : أنا أغني الشركاء عن الشرك ، من عمل عملاً أشرك فيه معي غيري، تركته وشركهKnow that Satan may come to you when you intend to do a good deed and say to you: "You are only doing this for showing off." He will frustrate you, frustrate your enthusiasm, and discourage you. But do not pay attention to this, do not obey him. Do the deed even if he says to you: "You are only doing it for showing off or for reputation." Because if you were asked, "Are you doing this deed now for showing off or for reputation?" you would say: "No." So this is the whispering that Satan has put into your heart; do not pay attention to it. Do good and do not say: "I am showing off" or the like. And Allah is the One who grants success.
The reciter: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.