How can I make my daily intentions divine?

To infuse our daily intentions with a divine essence and transform every action into an act of worship, it is essential to purify our hearts with the remembrance of God and, at every moment of our lives, to set our ultimate goal as seeking the pleasure of the Almighty. This concept in Islam is articulated through the terms 'Niyyah' (intention) and 'Ikhlas' (sincerity). Niyyah is the very core of an action; without a proper intention, actions, no matter how grand or arduous, lose their spiritual value. Ikhlas, on the other hand, means purifying one's intention from any non-divine motive and performing actions solely for the sake of Allah. The Holy Quran repeatedly emphasizes the importance of sincerity and acting for the pleasure of Allah. In Surah Al-Bayyinah, verse 5, it states: "And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion." This verse clearly illustrates that the foundation of all worship and every action is sincerity in intention; meaning all deeds must be performed solely for Allah. To divinize our daily intentions, there are several practical and spiritual steps we can implement in our lives: 1. Conscious Awareness and Presence of Heart before Every Action: Before embarking on any task, no matter how small or routine, pause for a moment and ask yourself: "What is my purpose in doing this?" Then consciously intend that you are performing this act for the pleasure of God. For example, upon waking up, intend to rise for a blessed day and to fulfill the duties Allah has commanded. When eating, intend to gain the necessary energy for worship and serving God's creation. 2. Connecting Worldly Deeds to Hereafter Goals: Islam does not separate worldly life from the afterlife; rather, it considers this world as the cultivation ground for the Hereafter. Therefore, we can transform mundane daily tasks such as working for a lawful livelihood, raising children, cleaning the house, studying, and even resting into acts of worship with a divine intention. Working with the intention of providing lawful sustenance for one's family, contributing to society, and being self-sufficient is a great act of worship. Caring for one's family and raising children properly with the intention of pleasing Allah and raising a righteous generation are among the highest forms of worship. 3. Avoiding Ostentation (Riya'): One of the biggest obstacles to divinizing intentions is Riya (showing off). Riya strips our actions of their value and nullifies their reward in the Hereafter. Whenever we feel we are performing an action for people to see and praise, we must immediately correct our intention and purify it solely for Allah. The Quran, in Surah An-Nisa, verse 142, condemns hypocrites who pray with the intention of showing off: "Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little." 4. Supplication (Dua) to God for Steadfast Intentions: Pure and divine intention is a divine gift that must be sought from Allah. Through supplication and prayer, we should ask the Almighty to cleanse our hearts from all impurities and hidden polytheism, and to make our intentions solely for His pleasure. The supplication, "Allahumma ij'al 'amalana kullahu salihan wa ij'alhu li-wajhika khalisah, wa la taj'al li-ahadin fihi shay'an" (O Allah, make all our deeds righteous, and make them purely for Your Countenance, and do not let anyone have a share in them), is an example of such a request. 5. Studying and Reflecting on the Lives of God's Saints: The biography of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Imams (AS) is full of lessons in sincerity and divine intention. Their lives demonstrate how every moment can be transformed into an arena of worship and servitude. Studying their biographies and sayings can inspire us on the path of divinizing our intentions. 6. Daily Self-Accountability (Muhasabah): At the end of each day, dedicate time to self-accountability regarding our actions and intentions. Ask yourself what you did today and what your intention was behind doing it. Was God's pleasure the priority or something else? This continuous self-assessment helps us identify our weaknesses and strive to correct them in the days to come. This process helps us get closer to a life with divine intentions every day, and our actions will have greater value and reward in the sight of Allah. This continuous practice smooths the path to closeness with God and fills our lives with blessings and peace. In essence, divinizing intentions means internalizing the remembrance of God in all aspects of life, so that every step and every decision we make becomes a mirror of pure devotion.