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

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.