Are My Prayers Valid if the Intention Was Not Specific?

Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi

Question

I recently have read the answer to “How to Establish an Intention for Prayer.” For years, I never intended to perform the “current” prayer. When the time for the prayer entered, I just prayed it stating the prayer and if it was fard or sunnah. I did not make the “Allah” in Takbir Tahrima heavy as I did not know tajweed, nor did I intend that I am performing individually. Can I assume the validity of all the prayers performed in these ways? Is intending to perform each one individually a requirement? Jazakum Allahu Khayran.

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Jazakum Allah khayr for your question!

The Validity of Your Prayers

Yes, you can assume the validity of all the prayers you have performed in the way you have described.

As it is stated in the answer you are referring to, “It is not necessary to verbalize these points—merely bringing them to mind is sufficient.”

How Should I Go About Establishing an Intention for My Prayer?

Rulings Regarding the Intention

“Actions are only by intentions, and each person will only have that which he intended.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

You can certainly assume that you intended to pray the current prayer. Why would you pray at that time otherwise?

It is also assumed that you were your own imam as nobody was praying with you when you were alone. Thus, you do not have to worry about bringing the intention to pray alone when praying by yourself. It is only important to intend to follow the imam when you are praying in a congregation. So no, intending to pray individually is not a requirement.

Ruling Regarding the Opening Takbir (Tahrima)

As for the Tahrima, as long as you were able to hear yourself uttering it, the prayer is valid. [Shurunbulali, Nur Al-Idah]

And Allah knows best.

I hope that the above answers your question. If something is unclear please do not hesitate to ask again.

May  Allah Most High grant you the best of this world and the next. Please keep us in your du’as!

Wassalam

[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching far and wide for answers to the fundamental questions of life and was disappointed at the answers he found.

Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.

He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others.

He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.