Is intention a condition for prostration of thankfulness?

Answer:

All praise is due to Allah, peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and upon all his family and companions: Prostration for thankfulness is preferable upon the renewal of a grace, or being rescued from a trial. Conditions required for its validity are similar to those required for that of prayer such as: ablution, covering private parts(awra), facing Kabbah, ritual purity and intention. In the book, ”Umdat Assalk”(p.93): “Sujud of Tilawa( prostrations during Quranic recitations) is sunnah for the reciter and listener…..Takbirat Alihram and Salam are due in acts other than prayer(salah)…It is preferable for one who is favored with the renewal of an apparent grace, or being rescued from an apparent trial-such as having a vision in which a person is afflicted with a sin or an illness- to prostrate for thankfulness…..It is similar to a prostration during Quranic recitation outside prayer since offering it in prayer renders the latter null and void.” It is worth mentioning here that it is permissible to offer the prostration of thankfulness whenever a new grace is bestowed upon you, but it is impermissible to offer it for a permanent grace for Al-Imam Al-Nawawi(may Allah have mercy on his soul) said: “ Sujud for the continuation of blessings is not permissible since they never stop”{Al-Majmoo(4/68)}. Prostration as a single act of devotion is impermissible since it should be offered within a prayer.