Hawzah News Agency - Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) says:

«اللَّهُمَّ ... وَ انْتَهِ بِنِيَّتِى إِلَى أَحْسَنِ النِّيَّاتِ.» 1

"Grant me the best of intentions."

Explanation:

The desires and God, this world and the Hereafter, are two opposing objectives. Love for both cannot coexist in one heart. A person whose sole aim is self-desire, worldly gains, love of power, or fame will follow that goal in all their actions. However, a person’s deeds and efforts will not become pure until all these corrupt motives—which lead to estrangement from God—are cast out of the heart.

Thus, the levels of intention and its degrees among people are numerous, even countless.

Therefore, a person must strive with all their effort in the path of servitude to God to attain the highest possible level of intention.

What increases the significance of a pure intention is the fact that God’s gifts are based on our intentions, not our actions. As Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), states:

«عَلَى قَدْرِ اَلنِّيَّةِ تَكُونُ مِنَ اَللَّهِ اَلْعَطِيَّةُ.» 2

"God's generosity is in proportion to a person’s intention."

Hence, Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) teaches us to ask God Almighty for the highest levels of intention.

This is because if a person adorns themselves with pure and divine intentions, according to the words of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), they will attain a sound heart.

«صَاحِبُ اَلنِّيَّةِ اَلصَّادِقَةِ صَاحِبُ اَلْقَلْبِ اَلسَّلِيمِ.» 3

"The one who is sincere in their intention has a sound heart."

And indeed, this sound heart will place them in the mercy of God on the Day when neither wealth nor children will benefit a person. As the holy Qur'an states:

«يَوْمَ لَا يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ؛ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ.» 4

“The day when neither wealth nor children will avail; except him who comes to Allah with a sound heart”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Sahifah Sajjadiyyah, Supplication no. 20.

2. Ghurar al- Hkikam, v. 1, p. 452.

3. Tafsir Nur al-Thaqalayn, v. 4, p. 58.

4. Chapter Shu'ara, Verse no. 88 - 89.

The International Service of "Hawzah News Agency"