The Book of Intentions

The Book of Intentions is a paperback English and Arabic translation of Kitab al-Niyyat on niyyah (intention) in Islamic practice, showing how to turn everyday actions into worship. For readers aged 16+.

“I intend.” With those two words, our lens of perspective, and our approach to everything we do, can change. This is a new translation of Kitab al-Niyyat by Habib Muhammad ibn ʿAlawi al-ʿAydarus, better known as Ḥabīb Saʿd. He explores the transformative power of intention (niyyah), rooted in the well-known hadith that "actions are by intentions." The book guides readers in aligning daily actions with intention and purpose, so that every deed becomes an act of worship.

Habib Saʿd emphasizes that the heart's intentions are more significant than physical actions alone, and that even small acts, when done with the right intention, can bring immense spiritual rewards.

The book is structured around themes such as:

• Visiting the mosque
• Gathering for prayer
• Cultivating relationships with fellow believers
• Ordinary actions of everyday life
• And more

For each act, the author gives a detailed set of recommended intentions and highlights the rewards linked to each. He also cites numerous hadith, along with insights from the scholars and the tradition, to show the importance of intentions in a Muslim's life. The text encourages believers to make every permissible action purposeful, including eating and drinking, waking and sleeping, buying and selling, and being with family and friends, so as to live in a continuous state of worship.

About the author: Habib Muhammad ibn ʿAlawi al-ʿAydarus was born in 1932 in Tarim and came from a distinguished lineage tracing back to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Raised in a scholarly and pious environment, he studied under numerous eminent scholars. His life was marked by dedication to Islamic knowledge and spiritual guidance, including three and a half years of severe torture in prison under a socialist regime. He authored over one hundred concise books on various Islamic topics. He returned to Allah on October 6, 2011, leaving a legacy of scholarship and spiritual leadership.

Author: Habib Muhammad ibn ʿAlawī ibn ʿUmar al-ʿAydarūs, better known as Habib Saʿd. Language: English & Arabic.