Does the niyyat for Salaah have to be made verbally?

Q: When I pray namaz, in the starting I read niyat in urdu for e.g: (I do niyat to perform 4 rakats isha facing towards the qibla). Is this the correct way to start namaz or should we just start with Allahu akbar?

A: Niyyat does not have to be done verbally. Rather, one may make niyyat of the Salaah one is performing in one's heart.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)