Intention

64248

Is it allowed to say 'Ya Ali'? If so, what should be the intention for it to be allowed?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 3 days ago

According to Ayatollah Seestani, it is acceptable.

Insofar as it is not an act of worship which requires intention (such as salat), it is not necessary to make any intention at all before saying it.

I don't think there is a benefit to interrogating other people's intentions, since people vary widely in understanding, learning, and their capability to self-reflect on what their intentions actually are, and people often do things without a specifically formulated intention out of custom/habit or as a reflex at a time of danger.

However, in terms intention, one cannot go wrong with sincerity, trying to adhere to what one knows to be true, or respect for the Prophet (S).

That is to say, to say things according to one's own understanding of what it should mean in accordance with what one knows of Allah, theology, etc. Of course, it isn't necessary to say it at all if one chooses not to.

(If you would like a more common answer regarding shirk, tawassul, etc, you can see here: https://www.al-islam.org/organizations/AalimNetwork/msg00322.html)

63807

Intention . God (Allah)

If someone does a good deed to a stranger with the intention of being rewarded by Allah (swt) rather than a genuine concern for the welfare of the one helped, would that be considered a praiseworthy or a selfish act?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 week ago

Every good deed for the sake of Allah (SWT) is very good and praiseworthy and a cause of reward in this life and hereafter.

Wassalam.

61228

Father . Intention . Theft

I took some money from my father's cupboard without him realizing it and used the money to buy a mobile. My intention is to return the money to the cupboard as soon as I am able to. Is this considered theft and is that mobile allowed for me to use?

Yes, it is considered theft because you have taken money which does not belong to you with out permission of the owner. Using this money and any item bought by this money is unlawful. You must return the money immediately to the same place you have taken it from.

Wassalam.

60947

Intention . Mosque . Waswasa

Why does it happen that when I make an intention to go to the mosque I get a lot of distracting thoughts that lead me to eventually abandon my intention?

Nour Tessie Jørgensen, Nour Tessie Jørgensen has an MA in Islamic studies from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark and a degree in Philosophy of Ethics at Al Mustafa International University in Qum, Iran. She works as... Answered 2 months ago

In the name of God,

may His light shine on your path of finding truth and good.

When we intend to do something of good nature, something that will connect the soul to its true purpose of nearness to the Divine, the lowly parts of the Self and its influence by the whispers of evil fight to keep one away from what is good.
What you experience may be a result of that. That when we want to do good, we are influenced to keep away from what draws us towards His door.

Sometimes we are kept away from going somewhere or doing something which in its essence is good but done at the wrong time and during wrong conditions may push you away even further.
We are tested individually and customized to specific times of our lives. One must always check with oneself and find the reason to why one wants to do something. We may experience that we desire to pray, to study, to read, to give (and so on) and then we are redirected from those actions. Later in life we may come to the conclusion that if we had done that at the specific time, we would have done it with riya' (the intention of showing off or gaining worldly positions).

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said

Perfecting an action is more difficult than performing the action itself, and purifying an intention from corruption is tougher for the striving ones than engaging in lengthy jihad. (Bihar al-Anwar, volume 77 page 288 no 1)

You must reflect and contemplate and you will find what is behind this redirection. When you know, and you will know by looking deep within. Look past where it hurts, where the reality of what we hide from ourselves lies. There you will find your reason and then you can change it.

If it is caused by the whispers of evil - find the strength to fight it and view yourself as victorious.

If it is caused by the harm of riya' - praise God that He kept you away from it, then fight it and humble yourself by going somewhere no one knows you.

If it is caused by poor planning - find the motivation to plan your day and keep to your schedule.

If it is caused by something else - find what is within the depths of your strength that God the All-Mighty has blessed you with.

That you seek answers, that you search and ask for help is a beautiful trait and a blessing from God. I am sure you will find the reason and the remedy even more efficient than the ones you ask, and ask God to assist you He will open doors of self-recognition for you.

Intention . Mosque . Waswasa

Why does it happen that when I make an intention to go to the mosque I get a lot of distracting thoughts that lead me to eventually abandon my intention?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answered 2 months ago

as salam alaikum

intentions should be followed by actions. If actions do not follow intentions on a regular basis, it may indicate that the intentions have been not formulated fairly. In fact intentions are the cause and deeds are the effect. A famous prophetic hadith says: "Truly the deeds are only according to the intention and to every man is that which he has intended". It is the intention that defines the action; working on the intention therefore should bring a better and/or more refined action insh'Allah.

You may also make a list of priorities and put the salat in the masjid at the top of your list, then keep vigil and focus on what is most important with Allah's assistance.

With prayers for your success.

58581

Intention . God (Allah) . Tawassul

Is it allowed to always prefer calling upon a Waseela directly with the intention that the Waseela communicates with Allah for the Du'a to be answered rather than calling upon Allah and mentioning the Waseela while addressing Him?

Allah The Glorious teaches us in Quran to go to the Waseela first who is the Prophet (SAWA) to seek the prayers of the Waseela for us. ( Had they when they did wrong to themselves, come to you, and seeked forgiveness and got the prayers of the Messenger for their forgiveness, they would had found Allah Accepting repentance and Most Merciful) ( Sura An Nisa, Verse 64).

All our needs and wishes are in the hands of Allah, and He is The Giver. Waseela is not an assistant or partner of Allah but His most humble servants and He wanted us to be always connected to them to follow them in obeying and worshiping Allah, that is why we are been ordered to seek the Waseela to reach to real worshiping and real obedience of Allah (SWT).

Obviously, the Muslims should go to the successors of the Prophet (SAWA) after his demise.

We also supplicate to Allah ( The Glorious) directly but with mentioning our Waseela to Him as He ordered us. Mentioning the Waseela means that we are obeying Allah in our way of worshiping Him and confirming our allegiance to His most humble servants.

Our Waseela are the best servants of Allah and mentioning them means that we want to be good followers of them in worshiping Allah The Glorious.

This is according to The Real Tawheed of Allah, not as some people wrongly claim it away from Tawheed. In fact those people misunderstand Tawheed and mix between the due respect and worshiping. We respect and follow and seek the prayers of the Waseela as Allah ordered us, but worship Allah only.

Wassalam.

54825

Intention . Children . Qurbani . Aqiqah

Can someone who is making Qurbani for Dhi-l hijja also make the intention for Aqeeqa for their children?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 5 months ago

Bismihi ta'ala

Priority should be given to the 'Aqiqah, and if they were to do the 'Aqiqah during the occasion of Eid al-Adhha, in shaa Allah they will receive reward for both.

And Allah knows best.

51541

Intention . God (Allah)

Can one do good deeds publicly, not with an intention to show off to others, but for the sake of Allah SWT and for others to be encouraged as well?

It depends on the real intention in the heart and mind which is known by Allah (SWT).

Good deeds are usually encouraged to be done secretly with out publicity, to keep it away from Satanic whispering of showing off which not only spoils the deeds but also turns it into bad. If the intention is really to encourage others to do good deeds, then it is good to do it publicly. After all, Allah (SWT) knows the intentions.

Wassalam.

48840

Intention . Marriage . Father . Mut'a (Temporary marriage)

If the intention for a Mut'a marriage is intimacy only and not sex then do I still need the permission of the virgin girl's father?

Bismihi ta'ala

Irrespective of what level you wish to take the relationship, it is still necessary for her father to give consent in order for the marriage contract (temporary or permanent) to be valid and legitimate.

And Allah knows best.

48309

Tarawih . Intention . Fajr . Ramadhan

In the month of Ramadan is it permissible to join Tarawih congregational prayers but with an intention of missed Fajr prayer?

If a person has missed Fajr prayers and still should make-up for them, it is possible for him to join the Tarawih prayers during the month of Ramadan with such intention. His prayers would count as Qada prayers and not Tarawih. However keep in mind that congregational Tarawih prayers as we see nowadays in Sunni masjids were not performed by the Prophet in that fashion.

With prayers for your success.

48789

Sawm (Fasting) . Fajr . Intention

Can I eat and start fast before sunrise if I woke up at the time of fajr and my intention was to fast that day?

Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb, Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb has a BA in Law from Guilan University, Iran and has also undertaken Hawzah studies in Qom. He is a Cultural Affairs director of Ethics Group of Al-Mustafa Open... Answered 8 months ago

The criterion for starting a fast is to avoid any invalidators of fast from the Fajr Azan till Maghrib Azan.
So as far as I understood from your question, you missed the due time so if you want to start the fast, you should not eat anything and continue till Maghrib

47182

Intention . Lust

Is it okay to look at men without the intention of lust, so that you don't actually want to have any feelings or bad thoughts, and yet there are such feelings?

Zeinab Donati, Zeinab Donati has been studying books about various Islamic subjects for more than 19 years. She is deeply interested in history and politics as well as social issues in particular those pertaining... Answered 10 months ago

Assalamu aleykum,

Looking at people of opposite gender is not a problem per se, although it should be avoided because it can cause lust thoughts, as you have described and experienced.

God commands the believing men and women to lower from their gazes in the Qur’an:

“Say to the believing men to lower their gazes and guard their chastity…”(An-Nur, 24: 30)

“And tell the believing women to lower their eyes, and guard their modesty, ….”(An-Nur, 24: 31)

So we should always keep in mind that is it as requirement to avoid looking at opposite sex people and to try to lower our gaze as much as possible.

To understand more about the meaning of lower one’s gaze, please refer to

1. Meaning of Casting Down

1. What “casting down the glances” mean?

It means that a person should not look at the member of the opposite sex except for those parts that may be uncovered.

So, for instance, a man is allowed to look at the face and hands of a non-mahram lady who is not related to him provided it is not done in with a lustful intention. (“Mahram” means person in whose presence hijab is not required. See the list at end of this section.)

https://www.al-islam.org/hijab-muslim-womens-dress-islamic-or-cultural-s...

Also, you may want to refer to the book A Code of Ethics for Muslim Men and Women in particular the rulings related to looking at others:

https://www.al-islam.org/code-ethics-muslim-men-and-women-sayyid-masud-m...