specification, it is invalid, because he has not specified it as the noon, afternoon, or night prayer. Therefore, he must pray four units intending the noon prayer, then four intending the afternoon prayer, and then four intending the night prayer. (1)

The view that appears strongest to me is that specification is not a condition; rather, the time itself specifies the prayer. It is valid for a person to pray four units intending whatever prayer is due from him, even if he does not specify it. Thus, if he says, “I owe a four-unit prayer, but I do not know whether it is the noon, afternoon, or night prayer,” we say: Pray four units intending whatever is due from you, and your liability will thereby be discharged.

Accordingly, if he says, “I owe a prayer from one day, but I do not know whether it is the dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, or night prayer,” then according to the view that specification is not a condition, we say: Pray four units, three units, and two units: four units that will suffice for the noon, afternoon, or night prayer; three for the sunset prayer; and two for the dawn prayer.

According to the second view, he must pray five prayers, because that prayer may have been the noon, afternoon, sunset, night, or dawn prayer. He must therefore take the precaution necessary to discharge his liability with certainty and pray all five.

Issue: Some people say that forming the intention is difficult for them.

The answer is that intention is easy; rather, omitting it is what is difficult. For when a person performs ablution and leaves his house for the prayer, then without doubt he has already formed the intention. What brought him to the mosque, made him stand in the row, and utter the opening declaration of Allah’s greatness is the intention to pray, even