Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 563 [Read full issue]
Purity of Intention and Motivation
Islam stresses the value of purity of intention and motivation and the need to cultivate this virtue in one's everyday life, and the sunnah gives us a practical policy of precaution to regulate our life and worship in order to preserve the purity and clarity of intent. This is obvious from the following ahadith:
Abu Hurairah relates that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Don't fast the last day or two preceding Ramadan, but if someone is used to fasting then he might fast." [Tirmidhi]
This prohibition of fasting immediately before the month of Ramadan is by way of a precaution, lest a man be uncertain whether he is fasting in Shaban or Ramadan. The hesitant attitude that results from this uncertainty is a sign of weakness.
Allah, the exalted, and the Prophet taught us we should satisfy our needs before we proceed to offer our prayers. This is so for it frees from distractions a Muslim's mind when engaged in worship, and thus promotes the purification of motives and intentions, which is a primary objective of both the Quran and the Sunnah.
Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet said, "If you are busy eating, don't hurry but eat until you have had enough, even if the congregational prayer starts." [Bukhari]
In a hadith from Abu Darda, Bukhari says, "It is a sign of a man's understanding and insight (in deen) that he should satisfy his needs first so that he may concentrate on his prayers thereafter."
These ahadith are only a few examples that illustrate an essential and consistent teaching of Islam that one should confront and completely reject any weakness of will and confusion of motives. All such measures are meant to secure one's will against all kinds of weakness and impurities so that one would have only one end in view, namely, "Allah's pleasure and subservience to His command."
Compiled From:
"Freedom and Responsibility in Quranic Perspective" - Hasan Al-Anani, pp, 177-180