Self-Purification
The Power of Intention in Islam:
Islam teaches us to live with intentions, not just in our acts of worship but across
all kinds of human activity as well. Why is intention so important in Islam?
Some of us may have prepared a list of New Year resolutions to help us get
ahead. As much as we look forward to embarking on this new journey, we may
want to take a step back and revisit the intentions that drive us to achieve our
goals. It is good practice to always identify the purpose of our goals rather
than rushing to fulfil them so that we can reap the most benefit out of it.
Intentions are the root of every action. It reflects the underlying motives of why
we plan something or do what we do. Narrated in a hadith, our Prophet
Muhammad s.a.w. said,
ِإَّنَم ا اَألْع َم اُل ِبالِّنَّياِت َو ِإَّنَم ا ِلُك ِّل اْم ِر ٍئ َم ا َنَو ى
“Indeed, deeds are (judged) by intentions. Every man will be rewarded only for
what they intended.”
This underlines that intention is the ultimate foundation of our actions.
Setting the Right Intentions
It is said: “A virtuous intention is the source of all goodness.”
The heart is where intentions are formed. Hence, as the heart and mind are
interconnected, what we intend will influence our thoughts and then our actions.
In another hadith, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w mentioned,
َأاَل َو ِإَّن ِفي اْلَج َسِد ُم ْض َغ ًة ِإَذ ا َص َلَح ْت َص َلَح اْلَج َس ُد ُك ُّلُه َو ِإَذ ا َفَس َد ْت َفَس َد اْلَج َس ُد ُك ُّلُه َأاَل َو ِهَي اْلَقْلُب
“Verily, in the body is a piece of flesh which, if sound, the entire body is sound,
and if corrupt, the entire body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.”
This means that the connection between the heart and our intentions is closer than
we think. Our limbs and, likewise, intentions depend on the state of the heart.
Hence, it is vital that we ensure our hearts are in a ‘healthy’ state as we set our
intentions to avoid pursuing any actions or goals that may harm ourselves and
others.
One of the ways to keep our hearts directed to Allah s.w.t is to recite a
supplication that was practiced by Prophet Muhammad s.a.w:
الَّلُهَّم ُمَص ِّر َف اْلُقُلوِب َص ِّر ْف ُقُلوَبَنا َع َلى َطاَع ِتَك
“O Allah! The controller of the hearts, direct our hearts to Your obedience”
(Sahih Muslim)
Using Intentions as Anchors to Our Actions
Indeed, when we are aware of our intentions, it helps us to be more objective.
With intentions, we tend to be more conscious of the things that will help us
achieve our goals and the things that might hinder them. Our intentions also help
direct us on what needs to be done and how things should be done. This reflects
our principles and values.
For Muslims, being God-conscious (taqwa) is one of the ways to ensure our
intentions are pure. When we are conscious of God, it is natural that we only act
upon that which pleases God. Things that also bring benefit and comfort to us and
others, not otherwise.
Having Multiple Intentions for a Single Action to Maximize Benefits
The sahābah (companions of the Prophet) and scholars would carry out an action
for which they would have many good intentions accompanying it. This is so in
hopes that they could be rewarded abundantly by a single action for every
intention they made. It is due to this that it is said, “Learn about intention
because it reaches further than the action.”
In ‘The Book of Intentions’ the writer has listed a number of good intentions for
different kinds of actions. He wrote in a way that each action is paired with
multiple intentions.
For example, if you plan to help people and fulfil their needs, you may have the
following intentions as well:
1. To obey the command of the Prophet;
2. So that Allah, Most High, may come to your assistance;
3. To follow the Prophet s.a.w
4. To bring joy and happiness to them
5. To be humble
6. So that Allah may allow others to assist you and fulfil your needs.
So, go ahead and think of as many intentions as you can, and pair them with your
goals. You’ll be surprised at what you can achieve!
Worship is only for Allah, no one is to be associated in worship. When the basic
motive for worship is to be seen by others, such as one who stands and prays so
that people will see him, and so that they will praise him for his prayers. This
invalidates the act of worship.
Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri narrates that once we were sitting talking about
Christ the Dajjal, during which the Messenger of God, may God bless him and
grant him peace, came and said: Shall I not tell you what I think is for you from the
Dajjal (i.e., the temptation of the Dajjal)? More dangerous? We said, "O
Messenger of Allah, may God's prayers and peace be upon him, let him know." He
said: "Hidden polytheism (a form of hidden polytheism) is that a man prays while
standing, and then embellishes his prayer so that someone is watching him." (Ibn
Majah)
That is, when you realize that someone is watching, embellishing or lengthening
the prayer and pretending to be humble, etc., this is hidden shirk. This polytheism,
which is hidden in actions and entered underfoot, has been declared by the
Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to be more
dangerous for his Ummah than the temptation of Dajjal. In a hadith, the Messenger
of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: committed shirk, he who
fasted for show has committed shirk, and he who gave charity for show has
committed shirk.”
Conclusion
There is an Arabic saying that goes:
َع َلى َقْد ِر ِنَّياِتُك م ُترَز ُقون
“You will get what you intended”
This phrase beautifully mirrors the hadith of our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.For
Muslims, any good deed done for Allah s.w.t, regardless of its quantity, will definitely
be rewarded. To ensure that we gain rewards from our good deeds, it is important that
we keep our intentions pure and sincere.
