𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 12 | 12 Sha’bān 1444H

In this lesson we are going speak about An-Niyyah, and mention 8 important issues related to it. This lesson will be presented in a Q&A format. Q1. What is An-Niyyah? Ibn Qudāmah raḥimahullāh said: “It is the heart's firm, unhesitant resolve to carry out an action.” [Al-Mughni (6/46)]. Q2. Where is the Niyyah located? Sheikhul Islām Ibn Taymiyyah raḥimahullāh said: “The scholars of Al-Islām are agreed that An-Niyyah resides within the heart and not on the tongue; and this applies to all acts of worship.” [Majmū’ Al-Fatāwa (22/217)] Similarly, Sheikh Ibn Bāz raḥimahullāh said: “Uttering the intention is an act of innovation, and doing so out loud is even more sinful. Rather the Sunnah is to form the intention within the heart, since Allāh knows what is secret and what is hidden, for He the Exalted has said (translated meaning): “Say: Will you inform Allāh of your religion while Allāh knows all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth?” [Sūrah Al-Ḥujurāt 16]. Furthermore, it has not been established from the Prophet ﷺ, nor his Companions, nor any of the great scholars, that they ever uttered the intention out loud; this proves that it is not prescribed, but rather it is an act of innovation which has been newly introduced into the religion.” [Fatāwa Islāmiyyah (2/315)] Q3. What is the ruling of An-Niyyah with respect to fasting? Niyah is an essential and basic prerequisite for all acts of worship. As-Si’dee raḥimahullāh said in his 'Mandhūmah Al-Qawā’id Al-Fiqhiyyah': النية شرط لسائر العمل * بها الصلاح والفساد للعمل An-Niyyah is a condition for all acts * by way of it (the Niyyah) actions are either sound or corrupt Thus, the Niyyah is a requirement for every fast, whether the fast is obligatory or a voluntary one. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Actions are judged according to intentions, and everyone will be rewarded according to what he intended.” [Bukhāri & Muslim]. 💡Benefit: 1. Niyyah is what differentiates acts of worship from customary acts; for example, two people fastes today; one fasted seeking to draw closer to Allāh and the other fasted because they didn't have an appetite. From the outside they are the same, but in reality the they are miles apart due to the difference in Niyyah. 2. Niyyah differentiates between acts of worship; such as obligatory acts (waajibaat) from voluntary acts (nawaafil); for example: the two units offered before Fajr is voluntary, whereas the two units of Fajr itself is compulsory. The difference between the two is in the Niyyah. Q4. When is a person required to form the Niyyah? Based on the previous ḥadīth, most of the scholars have said that the intention must be formed the night before if it is an obligatory fast. Another evidence they use is the ḥadīth of Ḥafṣah raḍhiyallāhu ’anhā, that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “There is no fast for the one who did not intend to fast from the night before.” [Abū Dāwūd] However, many of the scholars of ḥadīth; such as Bukhāri, An-Nasā'ee, Tirmidhi and others, have said that this report is Mawqūf (i.e. the statement of Ḥafṣah, rather than the Prophet ﷺ). Nonetheless, scholars are agreed that the Niyyah precedes the action, so on this basis it has to be formed before dawn, which is when fasting begins; and perhaps this is what Ḥafṣah was meant by her statement. Therefore, the Niyyah must be formed the night before. Q5. What about voluntary fasts? With voluntary fasts, it's not a condition to form the intention the night before. Rather it's allowed to form the intention during the day. This is proven by the ḥadīth of ’Ā'ishah raḍhiyallāhu ’anhā, who said: “The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ entered upon me one day and said, ‘Do you have anything [to eat]?’ We said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘In that case I am fasting.’” [Muslim] 💡Benefit: Al-’Izz ibn ’Abdis-Salām raḥimahullāh mentioned that the Niyyah has to precede all acts of worship with the exception of voluntary fasting. [Qawā’d Al-Aḥkām]