He was asked:

Regarding the intention for purification, prayer, fasting, Hajj, and other acts of worship: does it reside in the heart or on the tongue? Is stating the intention aloud obligatory or recommended? Has any Muslim said that unless a person does so, his prayer or other act of worship is invalid?

Has anyone said that the prayer of someone who states his intention aloud is better than that of someone who does so quietly, whether he is leading the prayer, following an imam, or praying alone? Is expressing the intention verbally obligatory or not?

Has any of the four imams, or any other imam of the Muslims, said that a person’s prayer is invalid unless he expresses his intention verbally? If this is not obligatory, is it recommended? What was the practice of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Rightly Guided Caliphs?

If someone persists in stating his intention aloud, believing this to be prescribed, is he an innovator who contravenes Islamic law, or not? Does he deserve discretionary punishment if he refuses to desist? Please give us a detailed answer.

He replied:

All praise be to Allah. The intention resides in the heart, not on the tongue, by agreement of the imams of