The Importantance of Intent In Islam

[Malaikah]

i was reading recently about ihsan - would "intent" be an accurate translation of this word?

No, ihsan means perfect (I think). In Islam ihsan means to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you can't reach that level, then as if He sees you.

it interests me because i think "intent" is much more important than outer manifestations. (of course, i'm not a muslim).

They go hand in hand. Good outer manifestations are 100% invalid without the proper intention, and proper intention can't be truly be there is it doesn't become manifest in the persons outer actions.

 

[snakelegs]

No, ihsan means perfect (I think). In Islam ihsan means to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you can't reach that level, then as if He sees you.



They go hand in hand. Good outer manifestations are 100% invalid without the proper intention, and proper intention can't be truly be there is it doesn't become manifest in the persons outer actions.

makes sense.

 

[aamirsaab]

several years ago, there was a case in saudi arabia where some girls' school caught fire and they were not rescued because of fear that they would be caught unveiled. (even tho that would certainly not be the intent).

I was actually thinking of this particular case when replying.

is it true that this would be an incorrect (and twisted - my opinion, of course) interpretation/misuse of religious law

I cannot speak for all muslims (since I know certain would disagree), but that is certainly the way I saw it.

 

[snakelegs]

aamirsaab,
thanks for your reply.

 

[syilla]

Just missing rahmatullah snakelegs i guess ...

 

[Abdul Qadir]

how important is "intent" in islam?
a question was asked about the music in video games and was told that since his intent was not to listen to the music, but to play the game - it was ok.
is it ok for a male doctor to treat women patients, since the intent is to heal?
how much can you extrapolate from the comment about the role of intent in the video game case - do you follow common sense or is it clearly spelled out somewhere when it applies and when it doesn't?

hadith narrated by Umar Al Khattab: everything is based on intention when the Most Wise judges us on The Day...Muhammad(sallallahu'alaihiwasallam) said: My ummah are forgiven for the things they do wrongly without realising it.......but beware of Bid'ah...the sufees think that by singing and dancing, they are getting close to Allah but they are not...when someone listens to nasheed instead of music and his intentions are to get reward from Allah because of it, then he's very wrong as its a bi'dah and it Incurs the Wrath of the Almighty, the Angels and [Muhammad(sallallahu'alaihiwasallam)on the day of Qiyamat]...just to give u an example...just like the christians whose intentions are clear, but they will be burnt in the hell-fire forever...