Does one have to re-pay zakat, re-perform prayer, and re-fast for not having intended them due to his ignorance of the prerequisite of intention?
Intention (niyyah) is a condition for the validity of Zakat, prayer (Salat), and fasting (Sawm). Its place is in the heart, and uttering it verbally is not a requirement. Thus, if a person sets aside Zakat money with the intention of giving Zakat, or stands up for prayer, or takes the pre-dawn meal (suhur) for fasting, the intention has been fulfilled. Scholars have affirmed that intention is an innate matter that follows the knowledge of an action, and it is impossible for a person to perform an action by choice without intention. Uttering it verbally is a form of waswasah (whispers/obsessive thoughts). Based on this, there is no need to repeat acts of worship that were performed with a heartfelt intention.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/162792