The Meaning of the Hadith: “Actions are only by intentions”

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Q185: The questioner says: In our country, we know that every act of worship requires an intention. Therefore, before starting the prayer, it is necessary to verbalize the intention. If this is not permissible or is an innovation, as I have heard, then what is the meaning of the hadith that says:
Actions are only by intentions
إنما الأعمال بالنيات
?
A185: Every action requires an intention, based on the hadith you mentioned in which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.

إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى

Sahih al-Bukhari 1

But this does not mean that you should verbalize the intention. You should believe in your heart and intend in your heart to perform the act for Allah the Exalted, and that is sufficient. The place of the intention is the heart, not the tongue. Therefore, verbalizing it is an innovation, because it is not established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor from his Rightly Guided Caliphs and his Companions, nor from the best of generations, that they verbalized the intention. The place of the intention is the heart. And Allah the Exalted says:

Say, "Would you acquaint Allah with your religion while Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allah is Knowing of all things?"

قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ اللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيم

[Al-Hujurat 49:16]

So if you intend in your heart and aim in your heart, Allah the Exalted knows that, and there is no need for you to verbalize it with your tongue.

Source www.alifta.gov.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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