The first and most important pillar of any act of worship, is the intention. The Quran considers pure intentions as the basis for obedience to God[1], and considers prayer, almsgiving, and other rituals as the superstructure for it. This is because the tree of faith and spirituality cannot be watered except with a pure motive[2], and the fruits of righteous actions will not thrive except in a pure and healthy heart[3].
To make an intention, means to focus on the goal. And so, intention being a pillar of worship, means that any action, even if it has a beautiful and holy appearance, if it is done without choice and out of habit, or with a purpose other than to get closer to God, then it is worthless and useless[4]. Prayer is not an exception to this rule and should be performed with full awareness[5] and the correct motivation[6].
This view extends the scope of worship beyond specific actions and embraces all our moments[7] and every behaviour that is accompanied by such attention and concentration. Therefore, not only prayer, but also our life and death will be for God[8]. In this way, one will achieve a pure religion[9], monotheistic approach[10], and constant evaluation in accordance with the absolute truth[11].
Yet, with the illusion of seeing any influence from futile matters[12], or attachment to fleeting interests and pleasures[13], incorrect calculations will form in a person’s mind, so much so that they become[14] hypocritical and involve others in worship[15]. Eventually hypocrisy will drag them down into the valley of disbelief and turn their good deeds fruitless, just like farming on slate does[16].
Indeed, sincerity is an exalted position that an individual could achieve some extent of it depending on their capacity[17] and effort[18]. Adherence to this rank will be enough for the acceptance and effectiveness of their prayers[19]. But just as a purer intention results in a more valuable prayer, paying greater attention to the teachings of prayer can enhance our intention.
All parts of prayer repeatedly teach monotheism and remind of the oneness, greatness, and needlessness of the merciful God, who has no deity, owner, and influence except Him[20]. This will result in a true worshipper, to an extent that they do not even consider their worship worthy of attention or contentment[21], nor would they be pleased for others to praise them for actions they have not done[22].
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Islamic Library: Introduction to Islam
[1] . Quran 98: 5:
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ
They ordered no more than to worship Allah being sincere to him in obedience and are truth seekers.
[2] . Quran 4: 146
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَاعْتَصَمُوا بِاللَّهِ وَأَخْلَصُوا دِينَهُمْ لِلَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَسَوْفَ يُؤْتِ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Except those who repent and amend and hold fast to Allah and make their religion pure for Allah. These are the believers, and Allah will grant the believers a great reward.
[3] . Quran 26: 89:
إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ
Except for whom brings a sound heart to Allah.
[4] . Quran 6: 88:
وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُوا لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
And if they were to associate others with Allah, certainly what they were doing would be vain for them.
[5] . Quran 4: 43:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَارَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا مَا تَقُولُونَ
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer when you are intoxicated, until you know what you say.
[6] . Quran 7: 29:
وَادْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ
And call upon Him while being sincere to Him in religion.
[7] . Quran 70: 23:
الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَائِمُونَ
Those who remain steadfast in establishing their ritual prayers.
[8] . Quran 6: 162:
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Say: ‘Verily my prayer and my actions which bring me closer to God, and my life and my death are for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds’.
[9] . Quran 39: 3:
أَلَا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ
Be aware that the pure religion is for Allah.
[10] . Quran 6: 79:
إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Verily I have turned my face as a truth seeker towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the idolaters.
[11] . Quran 24: 25:
يَوْمَئِذٍ يُوَفِّيهِمُ اللَّهُ دِينَهُمُ الْحَقَّ وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ
On that day Allah will give them their true religion completely, and they will know that Allah is the very manifest Truth.
[12] . Quran 6: 22:
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَيْنَ شُرَكَاؤُكُمُ الَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ
And on the Day, we will collect them all together, then We will say to those who associated partners (to Allah): ‘Where are your associate-gods whom you were asserting?’
[13] . Quran 75: 20:
كَلَّا بَلْ تُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَةَ
It is not as you imagine, but you love this fleeting life.
[14] . Quran 2: 264:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُم بِالْمَنِّ وَالْأَذَىٰ كَالَّذِي يُنفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ
O you who have believed, do not nullify your charities by reproach and annoyance, like the one who spends his wealth to be seen by people.
[15] . Quran 4: 36:
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا
And worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him.
[16] . Quran 2: 264:
فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْدًا لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا
So, his story is as the likes of a rock whereon is a little soil, then heavy rain falls upon it and leaves just a bare stone. They shall not be able to gain anything of what they have earned.
[17] . Quran 2: 286:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
Allah does not impose upon anyone a duty but to the extent of his capacity.
[18] . Quran 53: 39:
وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ
And that man has nothing but what he strives for.
[19] . Quran 17: 19:
وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْآخِرَةَ وَسَعَىٰ لَهَا سَعْيَهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ كَانَ سَعْيُهُم مَّشْكُورًا
And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it as he ought to strive, and he is a believer, these, their striving shall be thanked.
[20] . Quran 20: 14:
إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي
Verily I, I am Allah. There is no god but Me. So worship Me, and establish prayer for My remembrance.
[21] . Quran 3: 188:
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أَتَوا … فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Do not think those who rejoice in what they have done…, do not think that they would be safe from the punishment, and they will have a painful suffering.
[22] . Quran 3: 188:
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أَتَوا وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Do not think those who…, love to be praised for what they have done, do not think that they would be safe from the punishment, they will have a painful suffering.