Q: My question is related to making the verbal niyyah before salah. Is it a bida’h? I have gone through a lot of articles regarding this matter. Some people say that it is bida’h. Some say that it is okay to say it verbally whereas some say that it is not from the sunnah, that our prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) did not use to do this. He would rather make intention in the heart and start the salaah with Allah Akbar. I am confused with it and don’t want to fall in doing something wrong. So if you can guide me to the right path Insha Allah. I also want to know if the intention is to be made in the heart only then what are things that should be said in the heart.
A: Intention is an action of the heart. If one is performing the Fardh Salaah, then before commencing the Salaah, one should make the intention within one’s heart that one is discharging the Fardh Salaah. Making a verbal intention is not a Sunnah, however it is permissible.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)