The Essential Objectives Behind the Prophet’s Intentions: Preserving Religion as a Model

Abstract

Just as the actions and sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) reflect legal and ethical objectives, so too do his intentions. He would not seriously consider any matter unless it was something required by Islamic law—unless a revealed text indicated otherwise. Intention is one of the stages that lead to action, which include a passing notion, a fleeting thought, internal reflection, serious consideration, and firm determination.

This study aims to shed light on a lesser-explored aspect of the Prophetic tradition: the matters the Prophet (peace be upon him) seriously considered but did not ultimately carry out. In particular, it focuses on the fundamental objective of preserving religion. The importance of this study lies in the precision required to interpret such intentions correctly, as they can form the basis for legal and ethical reasoning.

The study examines several examples of things he considered doing: burning the houses of those who abandoned congregational prayer; sending out companions on missions; being present on military expeditions; and demolishing the Kaʿbah. These cases are highly sensitive and must be understood strictly within their proper legal and historical context.

Among the key findings is that the Prophet’s intentions refer to matters he seriously considered acting upon but did not carry out due to some preventing factor. These intentions were expressed either verbally or through actions that implied intent. The objectives behind these intentions vary: some serve essential purposes, such as the preservation of religion, life, wealth, intellect, and lineage—where the objectives of preserving religion and life often appear together, and the proper ranking of objectives is observed in cases of competing priorities. Others serve necessary or complementary purposes, which this study recommends for further exploration.