What is the ruling on verbalizing the intention in acts of worship?
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Question:
The questioner from Yemen asks: What do the scholars say about people who verbalize their intention in many of their religious acts, especially in fasting and prayer? For example, some people, when preparing for prayer, say: "I am praying such-and-such obligatory prayer, Allahu Akbar." Is verbalizing the intention reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
Answer:
This is a religious innovation; it is not permissible.
Verbalizing the intention is a religious innovation. One should intend in his heart. Praise be to Allah, if he stands up with the intention of prayer, he simply says the takbir. He does not say: "I intend to pray such-and-such," or "I intend to perform tawaf." He brings the intention when he stands for prayer. If he stands for the midday prayer, he says the takbir with the intention of the midday prayer. If he stands for the afternoon prayer, he says the takbir with the intention of the afternoon prayer. If he stands for the sunset prayer, he says the takbir with the intention of the sunset prayer, and so on, in the heart. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
The questioner from Yemen asks: What do the scholars say about people who verbalize their intention in many of their religious acts, especially in fasting and prayer? For example, some people, when preparing for prayer, say: "I am praying such-and-such obligatory prayer, Allahu Akbar." Is verbalizing the intention reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
Answer:
This is a religious innovation; it is not permissible.
Verbalizing the intention is a religious innovation. One should intend in his heart. Praise be to Allah, if he stands up with the intention of prayer, he simply says the takbir. He does not say: "I intend to pray such-and-such," or "I intend to perform tawaf." He brings the intention when he stands for prayer. If he stands for the midday prayer, he says the takbir with the intention of the midday prayer. If he stands for the afternoon prayer, he says the takbir with the intention of the afternoon prayer. If he stands for the sunset prayer, he says the takbir with the intention of the sunset prayer, and so on, in the heart. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.