ভূমিকা

If they are not performed with sincerity of purpose, their weight will be no more than a piece of straw.

Prayer without sincerity too is not of any value because Allah (S.w.T.) says, فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ so worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion (Sura az-Zumar, 39:2) The following tradition of the Prophet (S), quoted from Usūl al-Kafi , is universally accepted by both Shi’a and Sunni jurists: The Prophet (S) said: “actions depend on the intents” At another place the tradition is quoted as: Innamal ‘amaal bin-niyaat Actions are judged by their intentions Without sincere intent, any actions that are performed for show are of no use.

Actions are effective, if intent is true. If any act is performed only for the pleasure of Allah (S.w.T.), then it is acceptable; otherwise it is senseless and useless. Sometimes such acts can be listed among the vices committed by a person for the Day of Reckoning. The Intent of Closeness During Prayer You know it well that any prayer without intent (Niyyah) is meaningless. In every mandatory prayer the intent of nearness to Allah (S.w.T.) is essential.

The intent is not just saying a few words, loudly or in your heart, that you are praying, or fasting, or performing the Hajj . When you go to the place of ablution to perform the ablution, the intent of going there to perform the ablution is in itself the intent for that act. Now, who has motivated you to perform this act? In fact it is Allah (S.w.T.)'s Order to pray that has motivated you to do the ablution in preparation for the prayer. So, your Niyyah or intent to pray is in your action.

You can repeat the wording of the Niyyah when you actually stand up for offering the prayer. Now, who has motivated you to perform this act? The motivation is Allah (S.w.T.)'s Order to you to offer the mandatory Prayers.