Chapter 17

10th October 2016

Intention - the power of word

Word forms an important tenet of Islam, the action being to keep one’s word once it has been given in a matter. This includes one’s word and promise to others, to oneself and to the Creator .

Surah 61 As-Saff Ayah 3

Kabura maqtan aainda AllahI an taqooloo ma la tafaaaloona

Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do.

There is a general guidance given in this ayat by Allah that one must honour what one has said will be done, by completing or doing what one has said will be done. This applies in all matters, large and small.

Intention-based actions

It is well known that actions relating to worship are preceded by a declaration of the intention to undertake that act of worship. This is applicable whether the act be of wudu (ablution), the salat prayer, fasting or the hajj pilgrimage.

Man was created with free will; that is, human beings are the authors of their own actions. We utilise free will by choosing to take the actions that we desire. Our actions are given direction by making considered intentions prior to undertaking the actions.

Our every action is preceded by intention. Often one is unaware of intention, when the intention is simply in the subconscious. An action and the results following the subconscious intention will lack focus and produce vague results, whereas an action taken after becoming present to, conscious of, or even speaking the intention will lead to conscious or intention-based actions. Those actions being more consistent with one’s intention will produce predictable and more precise results.

Freedom of intention gives one the ability to powerfully direct this free will to produce actions consistent with one's commitments and goals in life. It stands, therefore, that action taken without conscious intention can be at best merely hopeful, and at worst entirely futile.

Imagine the case of an archer, loading the arrow, aiming an arrow at his target, tensing the bow and then releasing the arrow which hits the target at high velocity. The action is tensing the bow and releasing the arrow – however, the desired result was only achieved by focusing on the intention, which was to hit the precise, desired target. The more focus placed on achieving the target (i.e. the intention), the increased likelihood of him hitting it. The actions followed the intention.

In the same way all actions are based on intention – with the likelihood of achieving one’s desired target being directly correlated to the level of focus on one’s intention.

This intention can be undertaken consciously and contemplated prior to setting out on a task; or subconsciously, with little thought and occurring almost at the same time as the task itself.

Intention is an extremely powerful tool yet is rarely utilised as the power of intention is grossly underestimated. Intention-based actions produce predictable and often breathtaking results – results that can be readily achieved by learning to precede each task by contemplating one’s intention.

Pronouncing or declaring the intention makes the intention become one’s word; the actions linked to this intention then become a prerequisite for one’s delivering on one’s word, and in doing so we attain the results consistent to one’s original commitments.

Developing intention-based actions

Bismillah – one’s intention in the name of Allah .

A starting point in developing intention-based actions is a routine that ‘bismillah’ is stated aloud prior to starting a task. Bismillah reminds one of their entire reliance on Allah and will also leave one conscious of their intention.

Surah 1. Surah Al-Fatihah (the opener) Ayah 1

BismI AllahI arrahmanI arraheem

In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful.

An intention is not a mere utterance of ‘might be’ or ‘may happen’. It is not a wish but a deliberation and a promise of action based on the intentions. Honouring ones intention is to fulfil the actions associated with the intention; it is to fulfil the promise as intended.

It is essential, therefore, to make intentions based on one’s commitments, objectives and goals. This way we will be empowered to fulfil our objectives by taking action around the intentions made.

Without intention the action is without direction.

Surah 20 Ta-ha Ayat 14–15

14. “Verily! I am Allah! La ilaha illa ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship me, and perform as-salat (iqamat-as-salat) for my remembrance.”

15. “Verily, the hour is coming and my will is to keep it hidden that every person may be rewarded for that which he strives.”

“Every person may be rewarded for that which he strives” indicates that one will attain the results consistent with that for which one strives. By definition, to strive is to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something.

Strive vs survive

To survive is to go with the flow, hopeful that a desired outcome may come about, whereas to strive is not being merely hopeful for a matter but is to make a sustained effort or take action to achieve the desired result.

It is an excellent habit to write down one’s intention. Indeed, it is mentioned as a habit of almost every successful person when asked, and is a consistent element in many self-help guides or books on ‘habits of highly successful people’ etc. Be it a shopping list, a list of to-do’s for the day or week ahead or a life/career plan, writing the intention down is one’s declaring and recording the intention. With this the actions consistent with that intention will become a reality.

How often have we started off the day with a vague idea of what we hope to achieve? Now compare that with a specific list of tasks; invariably, the written list will be fulfilled whereas the mental list will either be forgotten entirely or only partially completed. It is almost certain that there will be no check or balance with a mental list, whereas with a written list one will have a clear indication of one’s achieved tasks or results.

Recording one’s intention produces predictable success in one’s tasks.

Methods of intention:

Write down the intention as a declaration. Before starting action:

  1. Contemplate then state the intention verbally.
  2. Recite “BismI AllahI arrahmanI arraheem”.
  3. Record the intention – this may be as a note, a detailed list of goals and objectives or simply recorded on one’s calendar or smart phone.

Intention of the greatest action

With this understanding of intention, the intention becomes a declaration to strive or to make a great effort in achieving the desired result for success and to attain khushu.

Surah Al-Mu'minoon (the believers)

Qad aflaha almu/minoon

Successful indeed are the believers.

Allatheena hum fee salatihimkhashiaaoon

Those who offer their salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness.

Intention for desired results

To direct one’s actions to produce results for one's life:

Understand the power of one's own spoken word.

Being true to one's word is of utmost importance.

Being true to one's word leads to one's words becoming the truth.

What we say with full intention becomes one’s reality. Make one’s intentions. Repeat them daily, or 5 times daily with salat. Reflect on one’s life. It only takes a minute – better than a night of worship!!

Contemplation and intention consistently produce the desired outcome whereas haphazard actions/results are without focus on the desired outcome.

Surat Al-`Alaq (The Clot) 96:3-5

Recite and your Lord is most generous

Who taught by the pen

Taught man that which he knew not

Ibn Kathir in tafsir of Surah Alaq writes: “The honour and nobility of man is in his knowledge.”

Allah did not give knowledge to any other creation. Allah says to his angels:

Surah 2 Al-Baqara Ayah 31

WaAAallama adama alasmaa kullaha thumma AAaradahum AAala almalaikati faqala anbioonee biasmai haolai in kuntum sadiqeena

And He taught Adam all the names (of everything), then He showed them to the angels and said, “Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.”

The power of word and language

The spoken words that we use have a profound impact on us and are what define us in any particular moment.

It is generally considered that one's spoken word and language is based on what we already know and is a reflection of who we already are. For example, a teacher will speak to a student in a confident manner because of his knowledge/expertise.

A doctor would speak similarly to a patient, as would any expert when speaking about his field of expertise, whereas a student would adopt a different manner when speaking to a professor, as would a shy person when speaking in front of a large audience.

It is agreed that we all speak in the manner that is fitting to who we are. However, consider that this is actually one’s intention and the associated spoken words and language actually define who one is in the present moment.

The words that we speak are so often what holds us back from achieving what is really available to us. We may state that we are too tired and neglect to arise at Fajr, a student may state that he is not able to concentrate, or someone states they are unable to afford to help another. These are ‘excuses’ that we literally make up in language. Also, we may notice how one is so easily convinced by these excuses whereas if we were to speak the opposite, we may take a little more convincing! These excuses are initiated and/or empowered by waswasi (the whispers).Allah has created man with knowledge and the ability to recite. And He is most generous.

We are defined by what we speak and recite; this is Allah’s decree with which He has honoured mankind. Mankind has been honoured with knowledge and an ability to reason. Yet, this must be kept in context. Allah re-affirms dependency on Him alone.

Surat Al-`Alaq (The Clot) 96:6-8

No (but) indeed man transgresses

Because he sees himself self-sufficient

Indeed to your Lord is the return.

Allah is omnipotent – He has all power; Allah is omniscient – He has all knowledge, yet He has gifted man with a limited portion of this knowledge. Also the Creator in His infinite wisdom has placed great power in the intention – the word of insaan.

It is narrated on the authority of Umar bin Al-Khattab (ra), who said:

I heard the messenger of Allah say: “Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended. Whoever migrates with an intention for Allah and his messenger, the migration will be for the sake of Allah and his messenger. And whoever migrates for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration will be for the sake of whatever he migrated for.”

(Related by BukharI & Muslim)

Actions are based on intention

The connection between action and intention highlights the connection between the physical and the spiritual components of a human. This hadith emphasises the importance of having an intention for every physical act that we do, and the importance of having a purpose for every action. Conscious intention makes the connection between one’s physical actions and their spiritual consequences.

Intentions-based effectiveness

Whilst following this guidance from Islam, one becomes immensely effective. By regularly checking one’s intentions and understanding the purpose of their actions, one is constantly asking oneself about one's intentions – for their short-term and their long-term goals. This results in the believer constantly asking him/herself: “Why am I doing what I am doing?”

The intention is paramount as every action is based on intention.