Written by: Al-Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
"Niyyah (intention) is the resolve and determination to perform an act, and its place is in the heart. It has no connection to the tongue whatsoever."
[Ighathat al-Lahfan 156]
Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri Hanafi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
"Niyyah is a matter of the heart."
[Fayd al-Bari 8/1]
Thus, if a worshipper makes an intention in their heart, their prayer is valid according to all scholars. There is no need to verbally express the intention. It is neither proven from the actions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor from the Companions, the Successors (Tabi’in), or their followers (Taba’ Tabi’in).
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) further explains:
"When the Prophet (peace be upon him) would stand for prayer, he would say Allahu Akbar and nothing before it. He never verbalized the intention, nor did he say, 'I intend to pray such-and-such prayer facing the qiblah, four rak’ahs, as an imam or follower,' nor would he specify whether it was obligatory or make-up (qada) prayer. These are ten innovations, and no one has narrated any word of this from him—whether with an authentic chain, weak chain, musnad, or mursal. Nor is it narrated from any of his Companions, nor was it deemed commendable by any of the Successors, nor by the four Imams."
[Zad al-Ma'ad 1/201]
Mujaddid Alf Thani, Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi Hanafi, writes:
"It is neither proven from the Messenger (peace be upon him) nor from any Companion or the noble Tabi’in that they verbalized the intention, whether through authentic or weak narration. When they would call the iqamah, they would simply say Allahu Akbar. Thus, verbalizing the intention is an innovation."
[Maktubat, Volume 1, Part 3, Letter 186, Page 73]
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
"Even if someone were to search for the entire lifespan of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) to find evidence that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) or any of his Companions made an intention verbally, they would not succeed, except by telling a blatant lie. If there was any good in it, the Companions would have preceded us in doing it and would have informed us about it."
[Ighathat al-Lahfan 1/158]
Question:
Is it permissible to make an intention for prayer verbally? Is there any evidence from the actions of the Companions to support this?Answer:
The term niyyah means intention or purpose. All scholars agree that intention is an action of the heart, not of the tongue.Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
"Niyyah (intention) is the resolve and determination to perform an act, and its place is in the heart. It has no connection to the tongue whatsoever."
[Ighathat al-Lahfan 156]
Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri Hanafi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
"Niyyah is a matter of the heart."
[Fayd al-Bari 8/1]
Thus, if a worshipper makes an intention in their heart, their prayer is valid according to all scholars. There is no need to verbally express the intention. It is neither proven from the actions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor from the Companions, the Successors (Tabi’in), or their followers (Taba’ Tabi’in).
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) further explains:
"When the Prophet (peace be upon him) would stand for prayer, he would say Allahu Akbar and nothing before it. He never verbalized the intention, nor did he say, 'I intend to pray such-and-such prayer facing the qiblah, four rak’ahs, as an imam or follower,' nor would he specify whether it was obligatory or make-up (qada) prayer. These are ten innovations, and no one has narrated any word of this from him—whether with an authentic chain, weak chain, musnad, or mursal. Nor is it narrated from any of his Companions, nor was it deemed commendable by any of the Successors, nor by the four Imams."
[Zad al-Ma'ad 1/201]
Mujaddid Alf Thani, Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi Hanafi, writes:
"It is neither proven from the Messenger (peace be upon him) nor from any Companion or the noble Tabi’in that they verbalized the intention, whether through authentic or weak narration. When they would call the iqamah, they would simply say Allahu Akbar. Thus, verbalizing the intention is an innovation."
[Maktubat, Volume 1, Part 3, Letter 186, Page 73]
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
"Even if someone were to search for the entire lifespan of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) to find evidence that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) or any of his Companions made an intention verbally, they would not succeed, except by telling a blatant lie. If there was any good in it, the Companions would have preceded us in doing it and would have informed us about it."
[Ighathat al-Lahfan 1/158]