Question Summary:
Should Niyyat for Salaah be done orally or in the heart?

Question Detail:

Niyyat for namaaz,orally or in heart?

Answer :

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is a pre-condition (Sharth) of Salaah for one to make Niyyat (intention) in the heart.[1] However, it is Mustahab (preferable) for one to make intention verbally/orally.[2]
Moreover, the Fuqahaa (jurists) have stated that such an intention should be in the past tense, for example: “I have intended to perform such and such Salaah”.[3]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Moulana Ismail Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.