The intention, then, has four states with respect to maintaining it:

The first: that one keeps it consciously in mind from the beginning of the wudu to its end. This is the most complete state.

The second: that it passes from one’s mind, but one has not intended to discontinue it. This is called maintaining its legal effect; that is, one remains upon the initial ruling and continues accordingly.

The third: that one intends to discontinue it during the wudu, yet continues, for example, washing his feet in order to clean mud from them. His wudu is not valid, because he has not maintained its legal effect, having discontinued the intention during the act of worship.

The fourth: that one intends to discontinue the wudu after completing the washing of all his limbs. This does not invalidate his wudu, because he intended to discontinue it after completing the act.

For this reason, if one intends to discontinue the prayer after finishing it, his prayer is not invalidated. (1)

Principle: Discontinuing the intention for an act of worship after performing it has no effect. Likewise, doubt after completing an act of worship—whether one doubts the intention or some part of the act—has no effect unless there is certainty.

Thus, if a man, after praying Zuhr, says, “I do not know whether I intended it as Zuhr or Asr,” merely out of doubt, then this doubt is of no consequence so long as he began