Speaking Intention for Hajj Out Loud, or Not?

[Tabassum07]

:salam2:

I've heard that intentions are normally kept to the heart. However, the intention for Hajj is the Only intention which is spoken out loud.

But I'm confused now because I found this on Islamqa:

Given that speaking the intention (niyyah) out loud is haraam, what is the ruling on speaking the intention for Hajj and ‘Umrah out loud?.


Praise be to Allaah.

The place for the intention is the heart, and speaking it out loud is bid’ah. It was not proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or his companions spoke the intention for any act of worship out loud.

The Talbiyah in Hajj and ‘Umrah is not the intention.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Speaking the intention is a bid’ah (innovation) and doing so loudly is even more sinful. Rather the Sunnah is to make one's intention in the heart, because Allaah knows that which is secret and what is even more hidden. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say: Will you inform Allaah of your religion while Allaah knows all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth?”

[al-Hujuraat 49:16]

It was not narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the Sahaabah or any of the most prominent imams that they spoke the intention out loud. From this we may understand that it is not prescribed, rather it is an innovation that has been introduced into the religion. And Allaah is the Source of strength.

Fataawa Islamiyyah, 2/315

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

It was not narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) spoke the intention out loud, whether for prayer, wudoo’, fasting or any other act of worship. Even in Hajj and ‘Umrah he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not say, when he wanted to do Hajj and ‘Umrah, “O Allaah, I intend to do so and so.” It is not narrated that he did that or that he told any of his companions to do that. The most that has been narrated concerning that is that Dubaa’ah bint al-Zubayr (may Allaah be pleased with her) asked him for advice, saying that she wanted to do Hajj but she was feeling unwell. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to her: “Do Hajj and put a condition saying, ‘I will exit ihraam at the place where You cause me to fall ill,’ because your condition is valid before Allaah.’” In this case it is acceptable to speak out loud because resolving to do Hajj is like a vow, and a vow is spoken out loud, because if a person intends to make a vow in his heart, that is not a vow and is not counted as a vow. Because Hajj is like a vow and must be completed once started, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded Dubaa’ah to say her condition out loud and say, “If something prevents me from completing my Hajj, then the place of my exiting ihraam is the place where You cause me to be unable to proceed further.”

With regard to what is proven in the hadeeth, that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Jibreel came to me and said, ‘Pray in this blessed valley, and say, ‘Umrah fi Hijjah or ‘Umrah wa Hijjah [‘Umrah and Hajj],’” that does not mean that he was speaking the intention out loud, rather what it means is that he was mentioning the acts of worship in his Talbiyah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not speak his intention out loud.

Fataawa Islamiyyah, 2/216

And Allaah knows best.

So does a person have to say the intention out loud (as I've always heard) or not?

 

[BrotherInIslam7]

The fatwa that you have posted states clearly that it is not proven from the Sunnah to say the intention out loud including Hajj and Umrah. So I am not sure why you are asking us about it ?

As the fatwa states, intention is always made in a heart. A basic example, if someone intends to go to the market. Does he/she speak out to himself that he/she intends to go to the market when he steps out of his house ? No, rather he/she has already made his/her 'intention' to go to the market. What purpose does it serve to repeat the information to yourself by whispering or speaking it out loudly to yourself ?

Moreover as the fatwa states, speaking out intention is not from the Sunnah. And every action that contradicts and opposes the Sunnah is misguidance and there is no good in it.

And Allah knows best.

Wasalaamalaykum waa rahmatullahi

 

[Tabassum07]

I am asking, brother, because I was watching a video from Huda TV (http://www.islamhouse.com/p/231147) and between 18-20 minutes in the video, the sheikh says that the intention for Hajj/Umrah is the only intention stated out loud. (This specific ruling is said by the sheikh around min 19:20 in the video)

Two conflicting viewpoints, both from scholars. So I'm confused which to follow. I apologize if this seems redundant, but I stated in the Original Post that "I've heard that intentions are normally kept to the heart. However, the intention for Hajj is the Only intention which is spoken out loud."

Islamqa says its not stated out loud.
Sheikh Salah in the video says it IS stated out loud.

 

[islamirama]

In desi culture they say intention out loud, but this is wrong. Intentions should be said in one's heart. The talibyah of the hajj and umrah is said out loud. Maybe the shaikh was referring to this when I mentioned intention or maybe he isn't aware of what he said and could have made a mistake.

 

[BrotherInIslam7]

I am asking, brother, because I was watching a video from Huda TV (http://www.islamhouse.com/p/231147) and between 18-20 minutes in the video, the sheikh says that the intention for Hajj/Umrah is the only intention stated out loud. (This specific ruling is said by the sheikh around min 19:20 in the video)

Two conflicting viewpoints, both from scholars. So I'm confused which to follow. I apologize if this seems redundant, but I stated in the Original Post that "I've heard that intentions are normally kept to the heart. However, the intention for Hajj is the Only intention which is spoken out loud."

Islamqa says its not stated out loud.
Sheikh Salah in the video says it IS stated out loud.

:salam2:

Thanks for the sharing the link. In your opening post, you mentioned 'as I have heard' for the other opinion. It wasn't clear that you had heard it from a person of knowledge. I get your point now.

I shall hear to what Dr Muhammad Salah has to say and I will ask someone of knowledge for a clarification. I will post here once I get an answer.

Wasalaamalaykum waa rahmatullahi

 

[BrotherInIslam7]

:salam2:

I just listened to the portion of the link that was provided above. It does seem to be very well presented MashaAllah.

Dr Muhammad Salah is talking about the 'talbiyah' that is to be done and it differs for different types of Hajj to be performed.

And if you read the fatwa posted earlier from Islamqa. It states :-

The Talbiyah in Hajj and ‘Umrah is not the intention

So there is no contradiction. Rather the 'talbiyah' that is mentioned in the program of Dr Muhammad Salah is proven from the Sunnah. And Allah knows best.

In the 'talbiyah', the believer pronounces what form of Hajj he is about to perform. His 'intention' becomes apparent due to his 'talbiyah'. This is what Sh Salah is mentioning. In no other act of worship do we have such a thing.

The fatwa of Islamqa also clearly states what it means by 'making intentions' and I quote

“O Allaah, I intend to do so and so.”

This is a widespread practice common among many cultures before praying and performance of other acts of worship. However, it is not proven from the Sunnah.

The program of Dr Salah does not state anywhere that a person has to state an intention of such form (as mentioned above). The program informs the viewer about the 'talbiyah' which is present in the Sunnah. And Allah knows best.

 

[Tabassum07]

Thanks for explaining it so well, brother, MashaAllah. It helped me to clear my doubts regarding this topic. Thank you. JazakAllahu Khayr.