As for a Muslim who knows that tomorrow is in Ramadan and wishes to fast Ramadan, he necessarily has the intention to do so and need not express it verbally. Failure to form the intention overnight or to specify the fast as Ramadan most often occurs when there is uncertainty. For example, someone may not know whether tomorrow is in Ramadan, so he intends to fast Ramadan in general, or intends a voluntary fast, only to discover that the day is in Ramadan.

If someone verbally expresses one thing while intending something else in his heart, what counts is what is in his heart, not what he says. If he believes that the prayer time has not ended and intends to perform the prayer within its prescribed time, then discovers that its time has ended—or believes that its time has ended and intends to make it up, then discovers that its time remains—his prayer is valid by scholarly agreement.

Anyone who understands this will see that, when one knows what one is doing, intention is exceedingly simple: it requires neither obsessive doubts nor burdens and shackles. Hence some scholars said:

“Obsessive doubts arise in a person only from ignorance of religious law or impairment of the intellect.”

Scholars have disagreed over whether expressing the intention verbally is recommended. Some followers of Abū Hanīfa, al-Shāfi‘ī, and Ahmad said that it is recommended, to make the intention more emphatic. Some followers of Mālik and Ahmad said that it is not recommended for that purpose; rather, expressing it verbally is a religious innovation. Nothing has been transmitted from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his Companions, or their Successors indicating that any of them verbally expressed the intention for prayer, purification, or fasting.

They argued that intention necessarily accompanies awareness of the act, so expressing it verbally is a form of mental disturbance, futility, and senseless talk. The intention is already in a person’s heart, yet he believes that it is not there, so he wishes