What is Niyyah?

Niyyah means intention. It is a necessary basic

prerequisite for performing any form of worship or

good deed. In other words, Niyyah refers to the

motive behind an act, which is to attain Allah’s

pleasure and draw yourself closer to Him.

Aspect of Niyyah

In Islam, there are two aspects of Niyyah. The

first one is the intention itself. The second one

is the intention for the One for whom the act is

carried out. Making the intention is what helps

distinguish an ordinary act from an act for worship

that is performed for the sake of Allah SWT.

Applying The Right Amal

• Attaining the pleasure and acceptance of Allah.

  Make sure you are doing the right action according to Qur’an and Sunnah. Ask yourself “Is this act prescribed in Islam?” or “Is it done the way Prophet Muhammad has taught us?”

• Stay consistent with your Niyyah

  Don’t let your intention shift halfway. For example, if you’re praying to please Allah, don’t start hoping for people to notice your devotion. Constantly renew and protect your intention.

• Avoid showing off (Riya')

  Be mindful of your heart. If the ‘amal starts becoming a performance for others, gently remind yourself of your niyyah and correct your course. Constantly ask yourself, “Am I doing this for Allah or for people?”

• Do it sincerely with ihsan

  Do the act purely for Allah, with ihsan (excellence)—as if you see Him. This helps elevate even mundane acts (like working or eating) into acts of worship.

Internalising the ihsan

• Train yourself in private worship

  Worshipping alone, unseen by anyone, is one of the strongest ways to build ihsan. The heart learns to be present just for Allah.

• Develop deep khushu' (Presence of Heart)

  After you begin the action, especially in acts

  of worship like prayer or fasting:

  Remind yourself: “Allah is watching me now.”

  Ask: “Am I doing this as if I see Him?”

• Constantly renew sincerity

  Even in the middle of the act, quietly say in

  your heart: “Ya Allah, this is for You. Let me be sincere. This guards against the heart wandering and refocuses you.

Purpose of Man's Creation

• “We did not create the heavens and the earth and everything in between for sport.” (Quran 21:16)

• “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Quran 51:56)

Salah (prayer)

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, ˹genuine˺ prayer should deter ˹one˺ from indecency and wickedness. The remembrance of Allah is ˹an˺ even greater ˹deterrent˺. And Allah ˹fully˺ knows what you ˹all˺ do. (Quran 29:45)

Salah instills awareness of Allah, restrains from immoral behavior, and encourages obedience.

Attributes of salah :

• Ikhlas: sincerity for Allah

• Fear of Allah

• Remembrance of Allah

Sawm (fasting)

O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺. (Quran)2:18

Sawm develops taqwa, empathy, and discipline. It helps believers draw closer to Allah.

• Recognizing Allah's constant

  observation

• Weakening Satan’s influence

• Fostering acts of worship

Zakah

Take from their wealth ˹O Prophet˺ charity to purify and bless them, and pray for them— surely your prayer is a source of comfort for them. And Allah is All Hearing, All-Knowing. (Quran 9:103)

Zakāh purifies wealth and self, fostering generosity and reducing greed.

• Cleanses sins and bad traits

• Promotes social equality

• Supports the needy

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Commitment to˺ pilgrimage is made in appointed months.1 Whoever

commits to ˹performing˺ pilgrimage, let them stay away from intimate

relations, foul language, and arguments during pilgrimage. Whatever

good you do, Allah ˹fully˺ knows of it. Take ˹necessary˺ provisions ˹for

the journey˺, surely the best provision is righteousness. And be mindful

of Me, O people of reason! (Quran 2:197)

Hajj disciplines believers to follow Allah’s

commandments and abstain from prohibited acts.

Taharah

being pure, clean, and free from impurities and is a requirement for various acts of worship in Islam. To maintain purity, such as Wudu’ (ablution), Ghusl (full-body ritual purification), and Tayammum (dry ablution) when water is not

available.

Difference between taharah and cleanliness

Cleanliness refers to the general state of being free from dirt, germs, and anything physically undesirable. Wash your hands after gardening or wipe down a dusty surface to achieve cleanliness.

In Islam, Taharah, however, goes beyond the physical realm. It’s

a purification that removes physical and unseen ritual impurities

that discourage participation in specific religious acts.

Types of Taharah

• Purification from discernible impurities

  Purifying oneself from any visible physical impurity (such as urine, blood, or vomit) on the body, garment, or place of prayer that prevents the validity of that prayer. Purification is accomplished by the removal of the defiling substance from the affected area by washing, sprinkling, or scrubbing with water.

• Purification from indiscernible impurities

  Purifying oneself from indiscernible impurity related to the body, referred to in Arabic as Hadath, that prevents a person from prayer and similar acts of

  worship. Major ritual impurity (such as sexual discharge, menstruation, or postpartum bleeding), is eliminated by complete body wash, or minor ritual

  impurity (by causes such as sleep, passing wind, urine, or feces), is eliminated by ablution.

Ways to perform taharah

• Ghust

  After intimate marital relations or sexual discharge, upon completing

  the menstrual cycle or postpartum bleeding, etc.

• Wudu'

  Before going to sleep, to remove a sexual impurity, before performing

  ghusl, and renewing the wudu for every prayer.

• Tayammum

  When you are injured or ill, or when you cannot find water, or when the

  water is cold enough to physically harm you, etc.

Jama' and Qasar

Dalil

"...But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺ . Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful. ” (Al-Baqarah : 185)

What is Jama' Qasar

Jama’ Qasar is a special allowance given to Muslims during travel, allowing them to combine and shorten their prayers. This practice ensures that even whilst traveling, Muslims can still fulfill their religious obligations with ease.

Submission/Loyalty

Ta'ah" (طاعة) signifies obedience, specifically obedience to God (Allah) and his commands.

• Perform each part of the prayer as taught by the Prophet

• Be mindful that you are answering Allah’s call five times a day

• Even if you’re tired, busy or distracted, prioritize salah on time

Obedience in khushu’ means not just the outer part of the salah, but full submission with love and presence

Struggle in the path of Allah

Struggle or ability to strive, or the exertion of one’s maximum effort to repeal the

enemy by word or deed.

• Make a conscious effort to fight off intrusive thoughts

• Everytime your mind drifts, gently bring it back (spiritual striving)

• Keep praying even when your hearts feels empty

Consistency is a form of jihad. Jihad in khushu’ is the silent battle to keep your heart connected to Allah.

Reflection

Muhasabah is an Arabic term that means self-evaluation or self-reflection.

• Ask yourself: “Have I been sincere today?”

• In sujud, confess your struggles and make heartfelt du’a.

• After prayer, ask: “Was I focused? Did I pray as if it was my last?”

Muhasabah in khushu’ turns every prayer into a reflective mirror for the soul.

Modesty

Iffah means abstaining oneself from any form of sinful acts and the prohibitions.

• Stand before Allah in modest dress, posture and attitude

• Salah reminds you of your higher purpose and dignity

• Ask for strength in controlling the nafs and purifying the heart

Iffah in khushu’ means purifying your soul and remembering that true honor comes from restraint.

Humility/Humbleness

Tawadhu’ is to be humble and to be aware of one’s nothingness before Allah.

• Feel your insignificance when saying “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la”

• Let go of ego. Salah is a declaration that you are weak

• Khushu’ is from tawadhu’ : a broken heart that yearns for Allah

Tawadhu’ in khushu’ is seen when your tears fall from humility and from awe of Allah’s mercy.

Dalil:

Ramadân is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramadân˺. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.

How does Sawm show devotion to Allah?

During this sacred time, Allah asks that Muslims temporarily abstain from their needs and base desires that make up our human selves. Doing so provides Muslims with the opportunity to acquire a sense of control over their needs, desires and distractions, giving them room for a heightened sense of introspection and their purpose in life – to worship Allah. Keeping the Sawm for the sake of Allah alone, is a special act of devotion for which there is a unique reward.

The levels of fasting

• Physical abstention (Sawm al-Umum)

  The most basic level of fasting is abstaining from food, drink, and marital relations from dawn to sunset.

• Controlling senses and actions (Sawm al-Khusus)

  At this level, fasting goes beyond physical abstention to include avoiding sinful actions, speech, and thoughts. Practitioners are conscious of their eyes, ears, and hands, striving to abstain from anything displeasing to Allah.

• Fasting of the heart (Sawm Khusus al-Khusus)

  The highest level involves fasting of the heart, where one avoids all worldly distractions and maintains a deep focus on Allah alone. This level is the most spiritually rewarding.

Sabr Patience and Forbearance

• Training self-control

  demands self-restraint, helping a person learn to control urges and delay gratification

• Encouraging long-term spiritual endurance

  engaging in extra prayers like shifts focus from worldly Taraweeh and Qiyam instills distractions to spiritual goals, the discipline of perseverance

• Promoting emotional stability

  nurtures emotional patience, training the soul to remain calm under stress or provocation

• Spiritual reflection

  shifts focus from worldly distractions to spiritual goals, reinforcing sabr in faith.

Respect and Deference

• Fasting reminds us to be kind, patient and generous, especially toward those who are less fortunate.

• It encourages takrīm of others by increasing empathy and promoting acts like feeding the hungry and helping those in need.

• Fasting builds a sense of brotherhood, teaching that each person deserves dignity, regardless of status or wealth.

Rahmah Friendliness

• Experiencing hunger

  empathy for the poor and needy, show rahmah to those who struggle, motivating acts of charity, kindness, and generosity.

• Encouragement to feed others

  feeding a fasting person is highly rewarded in Islam. this fosters friendly, giving behavior within the community.

• Avoiding conflicts and harshness

  a fasting person is encouraged to stay calm and avoid arguments or negative behavior. “...and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting."

Important of Zakah

Zakah, often translated as “charity” or “almsgiving,” is far more than a simple act of kindness in the Islamic tradition; it is one of the Five Pillars that form the foundation of a Muslim’s faith and practice. Zakat is integral to Islam for multiple reasons. Its significance is underscored in the Quran and Hadith, reflecting core Islamic values of compassion and social responsibility.

• Religious duty

• Aids the less fortunate

• Foster gratitude

• Promotes social justice

• Purifies wealth

• Accountability to Allah

• Unity of community

Tazkiyah (Purification of the soul)

The term “Tazkiyah” originates from the Arabic root word. which means “to purify” or “to grow in goodness ,زَﻛَى ” In Islamic terms, Tazkiyah refers to the purification of the soul (nafs) from harmful traits and nurturing good character, sincerity, and God-consciousness (taqwa).

• Purifies the Soul from Greed

  Zakah trains a person to let go of attachment to wealth. It combats selfishness, materialism, and the love of dunya.

• Purifies the wealth itself

  The idea is that wealth contains a “right” of the poor, and paying zakah cleans it from that impurity.

• Cultivates Compassion

  Zakah connects the rich with the needs of the poor. It teaches humility, breaks arrogance, and builds a sense of community.

• Discipline the Nafs

  The nafs resists giving; zakah is a way to discipline and control it. It shifts focus from hoarding to serving.

Tawakkul

The root word in Arabic is َ وَﻛَﻞ (wakala) which means to entrust, charge or authorize. Allah is al-Wakeel, the Disposer of Affairs, the One entrusted, relied upon, depended upon and sufficient to take care of all matters. Tawakkul is having complete trust or reliance in Allah. For all affairs, Allah Almighty is capable, sufficient, and knowing so we should rely on him alone. Letting Go of Wealth Requires Trust Giving away money with a firm heart requires reliance

on Allah, believing that He is Ar-Razzaq (The Provider) and will replace what is given. Trains the Heart to Trust in the Unseen When you give zakah, you're obeying Allah without seeing the immediate outcome.

• Letting Go of Wealth Requires Trust

  Giving away money with a firm heart requires reliance on Allah, believing that He is Ar-Razzaq (The Provider) and will replace what is given.

• Trains the Heart to Trust in the Unseen

  When you give zakah, you're obeying Allah without seeing the immediate outcome.

Ukhuwwah

• Removes Class Barriers

  Zakah helps in reducing social inequality and softening the hearts between the wealthy and the poor.

• Prevents Envy and Resentment

  When the poor see their needs being met fairly, it reduces hasad (envy) and builds trust.

• Creates a Bond of Mutual Support

  Zakah builds a system of support, not dependency, where the well-off care for their brothers and sisters who are struggling. The wealthy help their brothers without expecting return, just for Allah's sake.

• Establishes Emotional Bonds

  The act of giving zakah is not just financial but it also involves kindness, awareness, and concern for fellow Muslims.