. J '-Ɵ  (cont.)

In fact, they are all sometimes used for the same meaning in Arabic. The niyyah is a subset of what iraada or will encompasses. Iraada, according to al-Qaradai, encompasses intention, resolve, consideration, desire, purpose, choice and will. One sees that the place of it is the heart. This expression is used in the following verses of the Quran: ., ,,.} J. ,,.. .,. ,,,, .,. ,., / ௵௶ h_; . k I °T੐.j G ௳ Jh i ·jWI h; 0LS" -௴ ৈ ,,. ,,. u / / "Whoever wants the quick-passing short-live [enjoyment of this world], We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell. He will burn therein, disgraced and rejectedfar away from Allah's mercy. And whoever wants the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due it, while he is a believer, then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, thanked and rewarded [by Allah]" (al-Israa 1819). Qasd ("purpose") implies turning toward something and desiring it. It is sometimes used to mean the same thing as niyyah. Indeed, it is very close in meaning to it. However, the term qasd can be used for what a person wants for himself as well as what he wants from others. The word niyyah cannot be used in the former sense. Second, the word qasd can only be used for an act which is within the ability of the person himself while niyyah can be used for an act that is beyond a person's ability. That is, a person can have the intention that if he had a specific amount of money, he would give it all away. He may have that intention although that act may not be in his power since he does not have that money. For something like that, the word niyyah can be used but not qasd. The third word is azm. Azm is the resolve of the heart to fulfill a matter. This word can be found in the Quran also. In fact, in the Quran it has four meanings: purpose, patience, resolve and fulfillment. It also implies resolve to do something without any hesitation or doubt concerning that matter. Of the different terms, azm is the strongest with respect to having a resolve to 1 See al-Sadlaan, Niyyah, vol. 1, pp. 1071 1 1. Hadith #1 : All Actions are but by Intentions . . . do something. In fact, intention, want and purpose all precede azm. Azm is the end all of these different concepts. Niyyah, qasd and iraada all imply knowledge and action. First there must be knowledge of the act that one wants to fulfill. Then action must follow, as long as there are no preventative factors. In fact, no action will be completed unless it has three components: knowledge of the act, want to do the act and ability to do it. No one wills something that he does not know and no one can do something that he has not the ability to do. When intention (niyyah) is related to an act being done at present, it is also called qasd. If it is in relation to an act to be done in the future, it is called azm. Iraadah is used for both present and future acts. 1 Niyyahand Ikhlaas A person's intention may be noble or evil. However, for the believer, the goal is to make his intention, that is, the motive for his deeds, purely for the sake of Allah. This is another very important Quranic term known as al-ikhlaas (l...!")G..i/1). This is an essential part of the pure monotheism that was taught to all peoples by their respective prophets. Allah says in the Quran, g :I ;;_1\ I ' ௯' / ௱1 Ȗ:௲ ¯ :UT ਂਃ- - 1ȕ \ I £ .r-- ਇ..) U-/ ਆ ) . ௰/ Û (_ ,., • / ,., I ti ·௮: ਀al I U,.ৼ -!.l_'Sj 3)-by I lਁj:ij "And they [the previous peoples] were commanded not but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone sincerely, and offer prayer perfectly, and give zakah. That is the right religion" (al-Bayyinah 5). Before embarking upon any act of worship, one must make certain that he is doing that act of worship purely for the sake of Allah. If he strays from that goal, then he is either committing a major form of shirk (acribing partners to Allah) that takes him out oflslam or a minor fomt of shirk. Is Something Left Out of the Sentence? Introductory Discourse In the Arabic language, it is not unusual for a sentence to have something left out of it. The same kind of speech is found in the English language. For example, there is what is known as ellipsis. Ellipsis is defined as, "the omission from a sentence of a word or words that would complete or 1 Other words that have some similarity with intention but which will not be discussed here are: F\ ,u-iiJl ..:Y.i.:.. ,_)>WI ·G4JI ·H_; •0c- ,.):.