Intention
النِّيَّةُ
Niyyah does not need to be spoken. It is an intention made in the heart. Before any act of worship, a Muslim should intend sincerely to do it for the sake of Allah.
What is Niyyah in prayer?
Niyyah (النِّيَّةُ) is the intention of the heart to perform a specific act of worship for Allah alone. In Salah, it means to firmly resolve — before the opening takbir — which prayer you are about to offer (for example, the Fard of Fajr, 2 rak'ahs) and that you are doing it purely for Allah's sake.
Why is it important?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Actions are but by intentions, and every person will have only what he intended.” (Bukhari & Muslim). Without niyyah, an act of worship is not valid — it is what turns a movement into an accepted prayer, and what earns the reward from Allah.
Does it need to be said aloud?
No. The niyyah lives in the heart — that is where it must be present, and Allah knows what is in the hearts. Saying it on the tongue is not a requirement in any of the four schools; some scholars consider it a helpful aid to focus, others discourage speaking it. What is essential is that the heart is clear about which prayer is being offered, for the sake of Allah.
Daily Fard
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ فَرْضِ الْفَجْرِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay fardil-Fajri, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah the Most High, two rak'ahs of the Fard of Fajr, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ فَرْضَ الظُّهْرِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala arba'a raka'atin farda-z-Zuhri, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah the Most High, four rak'ahs of the Fard of Dhuhr, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ فَرْضَ الْعَصْرِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala arba'a raka'atin farda-l-'Asri, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah the Most High, four rak'ahs of the Fard of Asr, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى ثَلَاثَ رَكَعَاتٍ فَرْضَ الْمَغْرِبِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala thalatha raka'atin farda-l-Maghribi, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah the Most High, three rak'ahs of the Fard of Maghrib, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ فَرْضَ الْعِشَاءِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala arba'a raka'atin farda-l-'Isha'i, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah the Most High, four rak'ahs of the Fard of Isha, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
Sunnah
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ سُنَّةِ الْفَجْرِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay sunnati-l-Fajri, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the Sunnah of Fajr, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ سُنَّةَ الظُّهْرِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala arba'a raka'atin sunnata-z-Zuhri, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, four rak'ahs of the Sunnah of Dhuhr (before Fard), facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ سُنَّةِ الظُّهْرِ الْبَعْدِيَّةِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay sunnati-z-Zuhri-l-ba'diyyah, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the Sunnah of Dhuhr (after Fard), facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ سُنَّةِ الْمَغْرِبِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay sunnati-l-Maghribi, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the Sunnah of Maghrib, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ سُنَّةِ الْعِشَاءِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay sunnati-l-'Isha'i, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the Sunnah of Isha, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
Witr / Nafl
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى ثَلَاثَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَاجِبَ الْوِتْرِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala thalatha raka'atin wajiba-l-Witri, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, three rak'ahs of Wajib Witr, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ نَافِلَةِ التَّهَجُّدِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay nafilati-t-Tahajjudi, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the voluntary Tahajjud, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ نَافِلَةِ الِاسْتِخَارَةِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay nafilati-l-Istikharati, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the voluntary prayer of Istikhara (seeking guidance), facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ تَحِيَّةِ الْمَسْجِدِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay tahiyyati-l-masjid, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of greeting the mosque, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ نَافِلَةِ الضُّحَى مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay nafilati-d-Duha, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the voluntary Duha prayer, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
Jumu'ah
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ فَرْضِ الْجُمُعَةِ اقْتَدَيْتُ بِهَذَا الْإِمَامِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay fardi-l-Jumu'ati iqtadaytu bi-hadhal-imami, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the Fard of Jumu'ah, following this imam, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
💡 For congregational prayers, add ‘iqtadaytu bi-hadhal-imam’ — ‘I follow this imam’.
Special
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ سُنَّةِ التَّرَاوِيحِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay sunnati-t-Tarawihi, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'batish-Sharifah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the Sunnah of Taraweeh, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ صَلَاةِ عِيدِ الْفِطْرِ مَعَ سِتِّ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ زَائِدَاتٍ وَاجِبٍ اقْتَدَيْتُ بِهَذَا الْإِمَامِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay salati 'Idi-l-Fitri ma'a sitti takbiratin za'idatin wajib, iqtadaytu bi-hadhal-imami, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the Wajib prayer of Eid al-Fitr with the six extra takbirs, following this imam, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ صَلَاةِ عِيدِ الْأَضْحَى مَعَ سِتِّ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ زَائِدَاتٍ وَاجِبٍ اقْتَدَيْتُ بِهَذَا الْإِمَامِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay salati 'Idi-l-Adha ma'a sitti takbiratin za'idatin wajib, iqtadaytu bi-hadhal-imami, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to pray, for the sake of Allah, two rak'ahs of the Wajib prayer of Eid al-Adha with the six extra takbirs, following this imam, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."
Janazah
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى صَلَاةَ الْجَنَازَةِ ثَنَاءً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى وَصَلَاةً عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَدُعَاءً لِهَذَا الْمَيِّتِ اقْتَدَيْتُ بِهَذَا الْإِمَامِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala salatal-janazati thana'an lillahi ta'ala wa salatan 'alan-nabiyyi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) wa du'a'an li-hadhal-mayyit, iqtadaytu bi-hadhal-imami, mutawajjihan ila jihatil-Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar.
"I intend to offer the funeral prayer for the sake of Allah — as praise to Allah, invocation of blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, and du'a for this deceased — following this imam, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu Akbar."