The Messenger, upon him be peace, said, actions are but by intentions and everyone will be rewarded according to what they intend.’ For this reason, one’s intention in studying is very important. Real success in one’s studies will be dependent on one’s intention as the messenger said, ‘everyone will be rewarded according to what they intend.’ One can be rewarded for secular studies by having a noble intention. The value of studying the religious sciences is raised by the quality of the intention. For this reason, Imam al-Haddâd encouraged his students to read the following intention.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ 
In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

الحَمدُ للهِ رَبِّ العَالمِينَ
Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds

وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ
May God bestow mercy and peace upon our master Muhammad ﷺ as well as upon his family and companions

نَوَيتُ التَّعَلُّمَ وَالتَّعلِيمَ
I Hereby intend to learn and to teach

وَالتَّذَكُّرَ وَالتَّذكِيرَ
To be reminded and to remind

وَالنَّفعَ وَالاِنتِفَاعَ
To be beneficial and to derive benefit

وَالإِفَادَةَ وَالإِستِفَادَةَ
to be useful and to find use.

وَالحَثَّ عَلَى التَّمَسُّكِ بِكِتَابِ اللهِ وَسُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ ﷺ
And to encourage holding fast to the Book of God and the Sunnah of His messenger

والدّعَاءَ إِلَى الهُدَى وَالدَّلالَةَ عَلَى الخَيرِ ابتِعغَاءَ وَجهِ اللهِ وَمَرضَاتِهِ وَقُربِهِ وَثَوَابِهِ سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى
and to call unto guidance and to guide unto good, for the sake of God, His pleasure, proximity and reward, transcendent and exalted is He!

الإمام عبد الله بن علوي بن مُحَمَّد الحَدّاد

Among the supplications that we have been taught to improve our understanding and aid us in our study is:

Ya Fattâh, ya ‘Alîm iftah lanâ fathan qarîban

O Opener, O knowledgeable One, open up for us an opening soon.

May Allah grant us all success, Ameen.