The Islamic concept of niat

In Islam, your niat is more important that the act itself. Hence the niat determines whether one receives blessings (pahala) for one’s act or whether one should be condemned for the (dosa or sinful) act.

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Raja Petra Kamarudin

Niat (Bahasa Malaysia and نیّة in Arabic) is an Islamic concept referring to the intention one evokes in one's heart to do an act for the sake of God (Allah).

‘Umar b. al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet (S) said: “Deeds are [a result] only of the intentions [of the actor], and an individual is [rewarded] only according to that which he intends. Therefore, whosoever has emigrated (hijrah) for the sake of Allah and His messenger, then his emigration was for Allah and His messenger. Whosoever emigrated for the sake of worldly gain, or a woman [whom he desires] to marry, then his emigration is for the sake of that which [moved him] to emigrate.” -- Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.

Scholars of Islam give two meanings to niat. The first refers to the intent (matlamat) while the second refers to the sincerity (ikhlas) of the act.

In Islam, your niat is more important that the act itself. Hence the niat determines whether one receives blessings (pahala) for one’s act or whether one should be condemned for the (dosa or sinful) act.

For example, if you are driving and your car skids and you accidentally kill someone that is not murder in Islam because there was no niat to commit murder. However, if you spot your enemy crossing the road and you intentionally knock him/her down and kill him/her, then that is murder because the niat was to kill (or hurt) that person.

Hence the same act of killing someone with your car can be considered either an accident or murder depending on your niat. But then how would others know your niat and whether you intended to kill that person you knocked down? Well, that is why Islam says only you and God will know your niat. Others will not know what is in your heart.

So, in Islam, a niat must precede your act, as an act without a niat is not counted. And a good niat even without any action is still counted (your receive pahala) whereas a bad niat without any action is not counted (you don’t suffer dosa).

For example, say you leave your home with RM1,000 in your pocket with a niat to donate that money to an orphanage. Along the way you bump into a friend who is in dire need of financial help. You then give that RM1,000 to your friend instead. You will still receive blessings (pahala) for the niat of donating that money to the orphanage although you did not in the end give the orphanage the money. Further to that, you also receive blessings for helping out a friend in need.

Hence your niat is even more important than your actual action. Everything in Islam is about niat.

The same applies to your niat of becoming a wakil rakyat (member of parliament or state assemblyperson).

If your niat is purely to serve your community and your country, then it is a sincere (ikhlas) act and you will receive blessings for that. But if you have other niat behind wanting to become a wakil rakyat then you will not receive any blessings.

But then, as I said, only you and God know what is in your heart. And Islam says unless we can prove that a person’s niat is not sincere then we must assume the niat is sincere and not doubt that person -- in other words, innocent until proven guilty.

Islam is actually quite simple is it not? But humankind makes it complicated whereas in actual fact it is not. Hence I will give you the benefit of the doubt and not suspect your niat behind your intention to become a wakil rakyat unless and until it is proven otherwise.

Now, what is your niat for voting for a certain person or a certain party? Well, only you and God will know that niat, which is in your heart. Whatever it may be, if your niat is ikhlas, then you would not go wrong. However, if you have a bad niat in your heart then most likely you would end up suffering disappointment in the end.

That is how it works in Islam. So let your act be preceded with a noble niat and not a self-interest niat.