Intentions

The word in Islam for intentions is Niyyah. The Niyyah belongs in one’s heart and it is the intention to do an action for the sake of Allah.

Your intention for Salat – Prayer

When you are ready to pray:

• In your mind and heart, tell yourself why you are coming to the Pray. Are you praying Fair, Dhur, Asr, Maghrib, or Ishaa? Are you making a Sunnah Salat?
• Prepare your prayer space. Make sure it is a clean and comfortable space facing the Qiblah – the Kaba in Mekkah
• Make Wudu – the purification before Salat
• Make sure you are dressed appropriately. For women that means you are covered from head to toe. Only your hands and feet may show.

There are several discussions on the proper dress for the Muslim woman and I have based this on what you see in most Prayer Outfits you find on the internet. For more informations, I suggest reading this article from WikiHow: 3 Ways to Dress Modestly as a Muslim Woman.

More notes on Intentions

The Muslim may have multiple intentions for every action to gain maximum benefits.

The Sahabah and Scholars would carry multiple intentions for every action so they could maximize reward with Allah.

“The intention reaches further than the action” Ibn Kathir.

In the Book of Intentions by Habib Muhammad bin ‘Alai Al Aydarus, the author wrote lists of intentions for different actions.

An Example: Praying a Sunnah Salat

Intentions: To follow the Sunnah of the Prophet, swa. To worship and please Allah. So Allah will come to your assistance and fulfill your needs. To ask for forgiveness and make du’a. To find tranquility and center yourself.

So make as many intentions as you can and pair them with your goals and actions.

Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad, swa, said that, “Each man will have what he intended for.”

For the believer, any good that is done for the sake of Allah, regardless of its quantity, will be rewarded. Keep your intentions put and sincere.