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What matter is the intention - even if there is a slip of the tongue

15-10-2011

Question 109351

When I entered ihram, my intention was to perform ‘Umrah and remain in ihram until Hajj, but what I said was to perform Hajj and remain in ihram until ‘Umrah, but actions are judged by intentions, not by words uttered. What is your opinion concerning this action and this Hajj? What I did was what I intended and not what I actually said.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

If what you said was a slip of the tongue and you did not intend to do that, then it does not affect anything, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Actions are but by intentions, and each person will have but that which he intended.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1) and Muslim (1907). 

If your intention was to enter ihram for ‘Umrah and remain in ihram until Hajj, but you made a mistake and said, “I am entering ihram for Hajj and will remain in ihram for ‘Umrah,” or something of that nature, it does not affect anything, because what matters is what was in the heart and if a person makes a slip of the tongue and says something different than what he intended, that does not affect anything. And Allah is the source of strength. End quote. 

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