1 – Chapter on Sincerity and the Presence of Intention in All Deeds and Utterances, Whether Public or Hidden

Allah the Exalted says: “They were not commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah; that is the upright religion.” (Al-Bayyinah 5)

He also says: “Neither their flesh nor their blood reaches Allah, but what reaches Him is the piety that comes from you.” (Al-Hajj 37)

And He says: “Say, ‘Whether you conceal what is within your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it.’” (Āl ʿImrān 29)

[Commentary]

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Chapter on sincerity and the presence of intention in all deeds and utterances, whether open or concealed.”

Intention (niyyah) resides in the heart; it has no place on the tongue in any act of worship. Therefore, whoever verbalizes the intention when he wishes to pray, fast, perform ḥajj, make wuḍūʾ, or undertake any other act is an innovator who has introduced into Allah’s religion something that does not belong to it. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—would make wuḍūʾ, pray, give charity, fast, and perform ḥajj, yet he never vocalized the intention. He never said, “O Allah, I intend to make wuḍūʾ,” “O Allah, I intend to pray,” “O Allah, I intend to give charity,” or “O Allah, I intend to perform ḥajj.” This is because intention is lodged in the heart, and Allah knows what is in the heart; nothing is hidden from Him, as He says in the verse the author has just quoted: “Say, ‘Whether you conceal what is within your breasts or