Is a prayer valid if entered with an intention wavering between completion and termination?

Chapter on the Description of Prayer

Al-Mughni

Book of Prayer

Book 3 · Issue 1 · Bab 5

Open in Qurani

Primary text

The prayer is invalid if one enters it with an intention wavering between completing it or cutting it off. This is because intention (*niyyah*) requires a decisive commitment (*'azm jazim*), which is absent during indecision. The ruling is absolute in this regard.