The ruling on verbalizing the intention when performing the prayer
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Question:
This questioner, Muhammad Dawud, says in this question: My question concerns the intention. For example, when I stand for prayer and I know that I am standing to perform the prayer, is that sufficient? Or is it necessary to speak the intention? I have heard some people, when they stand for prayer and raise their hands for the takbir of ihram, say: "I intend to pray such-and-such prayer," naming it by the number of its rak'ahs. Please guide us in light of this question.
Answer:
The place of the intention is the heart, and the Sunnah is to intend in one's heart only, without speaking with one's tongue. If one stands to pray intending the Zuhr prayer, that is sufficient; intending the 'Asr prayer, that is sufficient; intending the Maghrib prayer, that is sufficient; intending the Duha prayer, that is sufficient. One does not need to say: "I intend." It is a bid'ah (religious innovation) to say: "I intend to pray such-and-such, Zuhr four rak'ahs, 'Asr four rak'ahs, Maghrib three rak'ahs." This is a bid'ah with no basis. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The place of the intention is the heart. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not verbalize the intention, nor did his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1718b meaning: it is rejected.
It is obligatory for every Muslim that his intention be in his heart and that he not verbalize it, saying: "I intend to pray such-and-such," or "I intend to perform tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) such-and-such," or "I intend to perform sa'y (walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah) such-and-such." No, the place of the intention is the heart, and that is sufficient. Praise be to Allah.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
This questioner, Muhammad Dawud, says in this question: My question concerns the intention. For example, when I stand for prayer and I know that I am standing to perform the prayer, is that sufficient? Or is it necessary to speak the intention? I have heard some people, when they stand for prayer and raise their hands for the takbir of ihram, say: "I intend to pray such-and-such prayer," naming it by the number of its rak'ahs. Please guide us in light of this question.
Answer:
The place of the intention is the heart, and the Sunnah is to intend in one's heart only, without speaking with one's tongue. If one stands to pray intending the Zuhr prayer, that is sufficient; intending the 'Asr prayer, that is sufficient; intending the Maghrib prayer, that is sufficient; intending the Duha prayer, that is sufficient. One does not need to say: "I intend." It is a bid'ah (religious innovation) to say: "I intend to pray such-and-such, Zuhr four rak'ahs, 'Asr four rak'ahs, Maghrib three rak'ahs." This is a bid'ah with no basis. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Actions are only by intentions
إنما الأعمال بالنياتHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملًا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردIt is obligatory for every Muslim that his intention be in his heart and that he not verbalize it, saying: "I intend to pray such-and-such," or "I intend to perform tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) such-and-such," or "I intend to perform sa'y (walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah) such-and-such." No, the place of the intention is the heart, and that is sufficient. Praise be to Allah.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.