in doing so after he has been informed and the matter has been explained to him, especially if he disturbs those beside him by raising his voice or repeats this time after time. For this he deserves severe discretionary punishment. No Muslim has said that the prayer of someone who states his intention aloud is better than that of someone who voices it quietly, whether he is leading the prayer, following an imam, or praying alone.

As for voicing the intention quietly, this too is not obligatory according to the four imams and all the other imams of the Muslims. None of the imams has said that voicing the intention is obligatory for purification, prayer, fasting, or Hajj.

A person praying is not required to say, “I am praying the dawn prayer,” or to specify the noon or afternoon prayer, or whether he is leading the prayer or following an imam. Nor must he say “an obligatory prayer,” “a voluntary prayer,” or anything else. Rather, it suffices that his intention be in his heart, and Allah knows what is in people’s hearts. Likewise, for a ritual bath following sexual impurity and for ablution, the intention in the heart suffices.

The same applies to the intention to fast in Ramadan. No one is required to say, “I will fast tomorrow,” by agreement of the imams. Rather, the intention in his heart suffices. Intention follows knowledge: whoever knows what he wants to do necessarily intends it. Thus, if a Muslim knows that tomorrow is a day of Ramadan, and he is someone who fasts Ramadan, then he will necessarily