What is the difference between al-qaṣd (intention/aim) and an-nīyah (intention)? And what is the place of al-maqāṣid (higher objectives) in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence)?

In the terminology of jurists, al-qasd (intention/purpose) is defined as: the resolve directed towards initiating an action. As for an-niyyah (intention), it is a person's heartfelt purpose of what they desire through their action. Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned two differences between an-niyyah and al-qasd: The first is that al-qasd relates to the agent's own action and to the action of others, whereas an-niyyah relates only to one's own action. The second is that al-qasd can only pertain to an action that is within one's capability, whereas an-niyyah can be for what one is capable of and what one is incapable of, as in the Hadith, "The world is for four types of people."

Purposes (al-maqasid) hold great significance in fiqh. One of the major overarching legal maxims is: "Matters are judged by their purposes," which is derived from the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Deeds are by intentions, and every person will have what they intended." It has been said that this Hadith applies to seventy branches of knowledge, indicating the importance of understanding and considering purposes.