Reliance of the traveller
The Intention
f8.3 Then one makes the intention with one's heart.
If it for an obligatory prayer,
- one must intend performing the prayer,
- and that it is obligatory,
- and know which one it is, such as the noon. midafternoon, or Friday prayer.
The intention must coincide with one's first Allahu Akbar, obligatory existing in the mind and recommended to be uttered with the tongue (N: before the first Allahu Akbar) as well. One intends it from the first of the phrase " Allahu akbar" to the last of it. It is not obligatory to specify the number of rak'as or that it is for Allah Most High, or whether it is a current performance or a makeup prayer, though specifying these is recommended.
(A: some scholars hold that the mere determination to perform a particular prayer existing in the mind before hand is sufficient. Such an intention could be expressed, for example, by walking to the mosque after hearing the call to the noon prayer (dis: w25).)
If the intention is for a nonobligatory prayer that has a particular time,
- one must intend which one it is, such as for 'Eid, the eclipse prayer, assuming the state of pilgrim sanctity (ihram), the sunna prayers before and after the noon prayer, and so forth.
If it is for a nonobligatory prayer that is wholly supererogatory, unconnected with a particular time,
- one may simply intend to perform prayer.
