Excerpt from: Hadiyyat al-Muslimeen – Important Rulings on Salah with the Complete Description of the Prophetic Prayer ﷺ by Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai (رحمه الله)
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabb al-‘ālamīn, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlihi al-Amīn. Ammā baʿd:
“Hadiyyat al-Muslimeen fī Jam‘ al-Arba‘īn min Ṣalāt Khātam al-Nabiyyīn (ﷺ)”
«عن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه: سمعت صلى الله عليه وسلم عليه يقول: إنما الأعمال بالنيات .. إلخ»
Narrated by ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه):
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Actions are judged according to intentions…”
(Muttafaq ‘alayh – Sahih al-Bukhari 1:1, Sahih Muslim 1907)
➊ This Hadith clearly proves that intention (niyyah) is obligatory in acts such as wudu (ablution), ghusl (ritual bathing), and salah (prayer).
➤ This is the unanimous opinion of the majority of jurists.
(Reference: Al-Idah ‘an Ma‘ani al-Sihah by Ibn Hubayrah, p. 56)
➋ Exception:
Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) held that intention in wudu and ghusl is not obligatory, rather it is sunnah.
(Reference: Al-Hidayah with al-Dirayah, Book of Purifications, p. 20)
➤ This Hanafi ruling contradicts the above Hadith and other shar‘i evidences, hence it is considered invalid.
➤ Intention is the resolve within the heart.
➤ Uttering intention verbally is not proven from any Hadith.
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) states:
“Intention refers to the resolve of the heart. Its place is the heart, not the tongue.”
(Al-Fatawa al-Kubra, Vol. 1, p. 1)
He adds that this is the consensus of all sound-minded people.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) states:
“Verbalizing the intention is not reported from the Prophet ﷺ, any Sahabi, Tabi‘i, or any of the Four Imams.”
(Zad al-Ma‘ad, Vol. 1, p. 201)
Imam al-Shafi‘i (رحمه الله) used to say before entering prayer:
“Bismillah, turning to the House of Allah, fulfilling the obligation of Allah (عز وجل), Allahu Akbar”
(Al-Mu‘jam of Ibn al-Muqri, p. 121, Hadith 336 – Chain authentic)
This shows that verbal intention is not reported from the other three Imams (Abu Hanifa, Malik, and Ahmad), and should be avoided.
It is regretful that:
① The doer must have correct belief according to the Qur’an, Sunnah, and understanding of the Salaf al-Salih.
② The action and method must conform to Qur’an and Sunnah.
③ The action must be done solely for the sake of Allah’s pleasure.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ Opening Praise:
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabb al-‘ālamīn, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlihi al-Amīn. Ammā baʿd:
“Hadiyyat al-Muslimeen fī Jam‘ al-Arba‘īn min Ṣalāt Khātam al-Nabiyyīn (ﷺ)”
❖ The Obligation of Intention (Niyyah)
Hadith No. 1:
«عن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه: سمعت صلى الله عليه وسلم عليه يقول: إنما الأعمال بالنيات .. إلخ»
Narrated by ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه):
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Actions are judged according to intentions…”
(Muttafaq ‘alayh – Sahih al-Bukhari 1:1, Sahih Muslim 1907)
❖ Benefits Derived:
➊ This Hadith clearly proves that intention (niyyah) is obligatory in acts such as wudu (ablution), ghusl (ritual bathing), and salah (prayer).
➤ This is the unanimous opinion of the majority of jurists.
(Reference: Al-Idah ‘an Ma‘ani al-Sihah by Ibn Hubayrah, p. 56)
➋ Exception:
Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) held that intention in wudu and ghusl is not obligatory, rather it is sunnah.
(Reference: Al-Hidayah with al-Dirayah, Book of Purifications, p. 20)
➤ This Hanafi ruling contradicts the above Hadith and other shar‘i evidences, hence it is considered invalid.
❖ Definition of Intention:
➤ Intention is the resolve within the heart.
➤ Uttering intention verbally is not proven from any Hadith.
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) states:
“Intention refers to the resolve of the heart. Its place is the heart, not the tongue.”
(Al-Fatawa al-Kubra, Vol. 1, p. 1)
He adds that this is the consensus of all sound-minded people.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) states:
“Verbalizing the intention is not reported from the Prophet ﷺ, any Sahabi, Tabi‘i, or any of the Four Imams.”
(Zad al-Ma‘ad, Vol. 1, p. 201)
❖ Clarification:
Imam al-Shafi‘i (رحمه الله) used to say before entering prayer:
“Bismillah, turning to the House of Allah, fulfilling the obligation of Allah (عز وجل), Allahu Akbar”
(Al-Mu‘jam of Ibn al-Muqri, p. 121, Hadith 336 – Chain authentic)
This shows that verbal intention is not reported from the other three Imams (Abu Hanifa, Malik, and Ahmad), and should be avoided.
❖ A Critical Observation:
It is regretful that:
- The actual obligation—intention in the heart—is often downgraded to Sunnah,
- While the unsupported practice of verbal intention is promoted as recommended and observed with undue emphasis, akin to a wajib act.
❖ Three Conditions for an Action to Be Accepted by Allah:
① The doer must have correct belief according to the Qur’an, Sunnah, and understanding of the Salaf al-Salih.
② The action and method must conform to Qur’an and Sunnah.
③ The action must be done solely for the sake of Allah’s pleasure.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
