On Intention (Niyyah) in Didactic Mystical Texts

Intention (niyyah) is the inner purpose of each deed. Intention is an important criterion for evaluating the acts and its importance has been reported in Quran and Hadith. Given the importance of intention in religious texts, mystics and theologians have teachings on the subject. This paper seeks to examine the concept of intention and its position in mystical texts and in Sufi's words and teachings. So besides explaining the concept of intention and its role in the truth fulfillment and value of an act, the opinion of famous mystics on the subject is presented in this paper. This study indicates the importance of intention in mystical teachings. Not only the intention is one of the important requirements of an act but also the value of an act depends on that.