Practical Guides: Actions with Intention and Remembrance

Step-by-Step Guide to Performing Salah with Niyyah and Khushu’

1. Preparation:

• Purification (Wudu):
  • Perform Wudu (ablution) with mindfulness, knowing that you are preparing to stand before Allah.
• Hadith Reference:

“When a Muslim performs ablution and washes his face, every sin he contemplated with his eyes is washed away…”

— Sahih Muslim

• Clean Place and Attire:
  • Ensure the place of prayer is clean.
  • Wear modest and clean clothing.

2. Setting the Niyyah:

• Internal Intention:
  • In your heart, intend to perform the specific prayer (e.g., Fajr, Dhuhr) for Allah’s sake.
  • Reflect on the purpose of the prayer and your desire to seek Allah’s pleasure.

3. Facing the Qibla:

• Stand facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca.

4. The Prayer Steps:

• Takbiratul Ihram:
  • Raise your hands to your ears (men) or shoulders (women) and say “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest).
• Focus:
  • Begin your prayer by acknowledging Allah’s greatness, letting go of worldly distractions.
• Standing (Qiyam):
  • Recite Surah Al-Fatihah with understanding.
  • Tip: Ponder over the meanings of the verses.
  • Recite another short Surah or verses from the Quran.
• Quranic Encouragement:

So woe to those who pray [but] are heedless of their prayer.

— Quran 107:4-5

• • This verse warns against praying without focus.
• Bowing (Ruku’):
  • Say “Allahu Akbar” and bow, placing hands on knees.
  • Recite “Subhana Rabbiyal ’Adheem” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great) three times.
  • Focus: Feel humility before Allah.
• Standing from Ruku’:
  • Rise saying “Sami’Allahu liman hamidah” (Allah hears those who praise Him).
  • Then say “Rabbana wa lakal hamd” (Our Lord, and to You is all praise).
• Prostration (Sujood):
  • Say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate with seven points touching the ground.
  • Recite “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) three times.
  • Focus: Express total submission to Allah.
• Sitting between Sujood:
  • Rise saying “Allahu Akbar” and sit on your left leg.
  • Recite “Rabbi ghfir li” (My Lord, forgive me).
• Second Sujood:
  • Repeat the prostration.
• Subsequent Units (Rak’ahs):
  • Repeat steps for the number of required units for the specific prayer.
• Tashahhud:
  • In the final sitting, recite the Tashahhud and send blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
• Conclusion (Tasleem):
  • End the prayer by turning your head to the right and left, saying “As-salamu ’alaykum wa rahmatullah” (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah).

5. After Prayer Supplications:

• • Engage in Dhikr and Dua, seeking Allah’s forgiveness and blessings.
• Example Supplication:

“Allahumma anta al-salaam wa minka al-salaam, tabarakta ya dha al-jalali wal-ikram”

(O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Honor.)

Tips for Enhancing Khushu’:

• Understand What You Recite:
  • Learn the meanings of the Arabic phrases to connect deeply.
• Minimize Distractions:
  • Pray in a quiet place and eliminate visual and auditory distractions.
• Visualize Standing Before Allah:
  • Remind yourself that you are in direct communication with your Creator.
• Regularly Renew Your Intention:
  • If your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to the prayer.

Guidelines for Fasting with Mindfulness

1. Setting the Intention:

• Before Dawn (Suhoor):
  • Wake up for Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, with the intention to strengthen yourself for fasting.
• Supplication:
  • Intend in your heart: “I intend to fast today for Allah.”

2. Abstention:

• From dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib), abstain from:
  • Food and Drink
  • Marital Relations
  • Negative Behaviors:
    • Guard against lying, backbiting, and anger.
• Hadith Reminder:

“Whoever does not give up false speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.”

— Sahih al-Bukhari

3. Mindfulness of Allah:

• Continuous Dhikr:
  • Engage in remembrance throughout the day.
• Quran Recitation:
  • Increase your recitation and reflection upon the Quran.
• Quranic Connection:

The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran…

— Quran 2:185

4. Breaking the Fast (Iftar):

• Supplication at Iftar:
  • Say: “Allahumma laka sumtu wa ’ala rizqika aftartu” (O Allah, for You I have fasted and upon Your provision I have broken my fast).
• Gratitude:
  • Reflect on the blessings of food and the ability to fast.

5. Evening Prayers:

• Taraweeh Prayers:
  • Participate in night prayers during Ramadan to enhance spirituality.

Benefits of Fasting with Intentionality:

• Spiritual Purification:
  • Fasting purifies the soul by controlling desires.
• Empathy for the Needy:
  • Experiencing hunger fosters compassion for those less fortunate.
• Increased Taqwa (God-consciousness):

Quranic Purpose:

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting… that you may become righteous.

— Quran 2:183

How to Give with Sincerity

1. Calculate Zakat Accurately:

• Understanding Obligations:
  • Learn the rules of Zakat to fulfill your duty properly.
• Intend to Purify Wealth:
  • Recognize Zakat as a means to cleanse your earnings.

2. Give Sadaqah Generously:

• Small Acts Matter:
  • Even a smile is considered charity.
• Hadith Insight:

“Your smile for your brother is charity.”

— At-Tirmidhi

• Secret Giving:
  • When possible, give anonymously to ensure sincerity.

3. Reflect on the Impact:

• Help Others:
  • Consider the benefits your charity brings to recipients.
• Personal Growth:
  • Giving enhances empathy and reduces attachment to material possessions.

4. Supplicate for Acceptance:

• Dua:
  • Ask Allah to accept your charity and purify your intentions.

The Impact of Pure Intentions on Generosity

• Increased Rewards:
• Hadith Promise:

“Charity does not decrease wealth…”

— Sahih Muslim

• Barakah in Life:
  • Generosity leads to blessings in both this life and the hereafter.

1. Honesty and Truthfulness:

• In Speech and Action:
  • Commit to truthfulness in all dealings.
• Quranic Command:

O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.

— Quran 33:70

2. Justice and Fairness:

• In Personal and Professional Life:
  • Uphold justice, even if it is against personal interests.
• Quranic Guidance:

O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah…

— Quran 4:135

3. Compassion and Kindness:

• Towards All Creation:
  • Treat others with kindness, regardless of their background.
• Hadith Encouragement:

“Allah is kind and loves kindness in all matters.”

— Sahih al-Bukhari

4. Modesty and Humility:

• In Conduct and Appearance:
  • Adopt modesty as a reflection of inner humility.
• Prophetic Example:
  • The Prophet (peace be upon him) was known for his modesty and shyness.

5. Environmental Stewardship:

• Caring for the Earth:
  • Protect and preserve the environment as a trust from Allah.
• Quranic Reminder:

And do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.

— Quran 2:60

Driven by Conscious Intention and Remembrance

• Set Ethical Goals:
  • Intend to embody Islamic morals in daily interactions.
• Regular Self-Reflection:
  • Assess actions and correct course when necessary.
• Seek Allah’s Guidance:
  • Make Dua for strength to uphold ethical standards.

Transforming Daily Activities through Intention

1. Eating and Drinking:

• Set the Intention:
  • Eat to nourish your body to better serve Allah.
• Say Bismillah:
  • Begin with “Bismillah” and end with “Alhamdulillah”.
• Mindful Eating:
  • Avoid wastefulness and overindulgence.

2. Working and Studying:

• Intend to Benefit Others:
  • Work or study to contribute positively to society.
• Ethical Conduct:
  • Uphold integrity in all professional or academic pursuits.

3. Family Responsibilities:

• Acts of Service:
  • Perform household tasks with the intention of supporting your family.
• Quality Time:
  • Engage with family members attentively, fulfilling the Islamic duty of maintaining kinship.

4. Exercise and Health:

• Maintaining the Trust:
  • Care for your body as an amanah from Allah.
• Balanced Lifestyle:
  • Avoid harmful habits and adopt healthy routines.

5. Social Interactions:

• Spreading Positivity:
  • Smile, greet others warmly, and offer help.
• Intentional Listening:
  • Be present and attentive in conversations.

Stories of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) Exemplifying Intentional Livinge

• Serving His Family:
• Hadith Narration:

When asked about the Prophet’s behavior at home, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

“He used to serve his family, and when the time for prayer came, he would go out to pray.”

— Sahih al-Bukhari

• • Lesson:
  • The Prophet (peace be upon him) engaged in household tasks, demonstrating humility and intentional care.
• Kindness to Neighbors:
  • Story:
  • Despite a neighbor who threw trash in his path, the Prophet (peace be upon him) visited her when she was ill, showing compassion.
  • Lesson:
  • Intentional kindness, even toward those who may wrong us, is a powerful act of worship.
• Mindful Eating:
• Hadith Guidance:

“The son of Adam fills no vessel worse than his stomach…”

— At-Tirmidhi

• • Lesson:
  • The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught moderation and intentionality in consumption.
• Environmental Care:
• Hadith Example:

“If the Hour (the Day of Judgment) is about to be established and one of you was holding a palm shoot, let him plant it.”

— Ahmad

• • Lesson:
  • Every action, even planting a tree when time is short, holds value when done with the right intention.