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Fatwa CenterIntention is a condition for the validity of Wudhoo'
Question
Assalam aleykum. My question is, where does the idea come from that one must have an intention to preform ablution for it to be valid? What is the proof? Thank you. P.S. -------------------- Because of the idea of intention i now must to redo many past prayers which are turn out to be invalid. But i would like to understand why first. I have asked this question some knowledgeable people. But they only refer to the "agreement of majority of scholars". But surely the majority of scholars do have a reason. And it is better to talk about a reason then just refer to majority as we try to understand. The only intention for anyone that cleans himself with water, be it a muslim or not, is to purify himself. No other possible intention come to my mind. So in this action we are equal with unbelievers. Can the hadith that says that "every person is what he intended" be a reason?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Intention is a condition for Wudhoo' (minor ablution), and this is not an idea but an Islamic ruling supported by the Sunnah. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Indeed, actions are according to intentions.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
What is meant here is not the form of the action, because that exists even without the intention; what is meant is that the legal status of the action is not affirmed without the intention. The Hadeeth means that an act is not legitimate, associated with either divine reward or punishment, without the intention. Thus, if one washes a part of one's body and does not intend Wudhoo’, it is not correct to say that such a person performed Wudhoo’, as such a person did not intend Wudhoo’. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 175949.
It is important to know that the intention means the purpose of doing something. Ibn Qudaamah 
said in his book Al-Mughni: “The meaning of intention is purpose.” Hence, if someone means to do something for a purpose, then he has intended to do it. It does not require any hardship or effort to remember it, and a person does not have to say it to himself; rather, it is the purpose itself.
Based on that, if you wash the body parts that must be washed in Wudhoo' in order to be in a state of purity or in order to pray, then the intention is achieved, so you should be careful of having obsessive whispers about your intention.
Allaah Knows best.
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