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According to Ayatollah Seestani, it is acceptable.

Insofar as it is not an act of worship which requires intention (such as salat), it is not necessary to make any intention at all before saying it. 

I don't think there is a benefit to interrogating other people's intentions, since people vary widely in understanding, learning, and their capability to self-reflect on what their intentions actually are, and people often do things without a specifically formulated intention out of custom/habit or as a reflex at a time of danger. 

However, in terms intention, one cannot go wrong with sincerity, trying to adhere to what one knows to be true, or respect for the Prophet (S).

That is to say, to say things according to one's own understanding of what it should mean in accordance with what one knows of Allah, theology, etc. Of course, it isn't necessary to say it at all if one chooses not to.

(If you would like a more common answer regarding shirk, tawassul, etc, you can see here: https://www.al-islam.org/organizations/AalimNetwork/msg00322.html)