Question Summary:
How should the intention before the beginning of a prayer be made? Do we say it inside our heads or outloud? What do we say?

Question Detail:

How should the intention before the beginning of a prayer be made? Do we say it inside our heads or outloud? What do we say?

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
 
It is not necessary to make a verbal intention. If a person knows in his heart that he is reading the fardh of fajr for today, or if it is a sunnah, then he is reading the sunnah of fajr for today,  this will be sufficient.
If a person wishes to make a verbal intention, it is sufficient to say: I am making intention for todays fardh or todays sunnah of fajr behind so and so Imam.                                                                                                
 (Bahishti Zewar Pg 146-Zam Zam)
(Fataawa Mahmudiya V5 Pg-505 Faruqiya)
 
And Allah knows best
Wassalamu Alaikum
Ml. Ebrahim Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah