Intention in Recommended Parts of Prayer

Question

Does the intention for prayer include the recommended parts of the prayer?

Answer 1

Peace be upon you.

Ayatollah al-Uzma Sayyid Sistani (may Allah protect him):

The intention is the purpose of performing an act as an act of worship, directed towards Allah with a sense of humility. It is sufficient that the motivation for the act is the command of Allah. There is no need to verbalize the intention, nor to have a detailed mental image of the act when intending it, nor to distinguish between obligatory and recommended actions, nor any other specific attributes or goals. A general intention stemming from the command of Allah is sufficient, which influences the existence of the act just like other voluntary actions performed by a conscious individual, as opposed to someone who is forgetful or heedless.

Source: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 1, Intention

---

Ayatollah al-Uzma Sayyid Khamenei (may Allah protect him):

It is sufficient for the intention to be a general intention to comply with the command, and to maintain that intention until the end of the prayer. This means that the individual should be aware and intend the specific act at the time of performing it. For example, when bowing, the individual should intend to bow and the remembrance that is recited, even if they have not specified the remembrance beforehand. This applies to both obligatory and recommended actions and remembrances.

Source: Fiqh al-Wali: Actions of Prayer

May you be successful in all good.