Niyyah

Requirement of Niyyah

The rationale for the requirement of niyyah is that it distinguishes acts of worship from ordinary actions that are performed in daily life. It also distinguishes between the type of worship and the level of worship i.e. whether the act of worship is obligatory or supererogatory.

How to Make Niyyah

Niyyah does not need to be uttered by the tongue, rather it should be made from the heart. If a verbal intention is made by an individual that is contrary to that which is in the person’s heart, the latter takes precedence over the former.

Some scholars have mentioned that it is mustahabb to also verbally utter one’s intentions, so as to fortify the intention itself.

If an intention is made audibly, it may be made in Arabic or in a person’s native language.

Niyyah for Hajj and Umrah

The niyyah for Hajj and Umrah should be made at the Miqat or close to the Miqat as it approaches after the Ihram attire has been worn. The following are some examples of intentions that can be made in Arabic, if an audible intention is being uttered:

Niyyah for Umrah

This niyyah is to be made if you’re performing Umrah during any time of the year, or Umrah as part of Hajj al-Tamattu. Another niyyah for Hajj al-Tamattu is made later.

لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
Labbayka Llāhumma ʿUmrah.

O Allah, here I am to perform Umrah.

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-ʿUmrah.

O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah.

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِي وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّي
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-ʿUmrata fa yassirhā lī wa taqabbalhā minnī.

O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah, so make it easy for me and accept it from me.

Niyyah for Hajj

This niyyah is to be made if you’re performing Hajj al-Tamattu (after Umrah has been completed) or Hajj al-Ifrad (only Hajj).

لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ حَجًّا
Labbayka Llāhumma Ḥajja.

O Allah, here I am to perform Hajj.

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْحَجَّ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-Ḥajj.

O Allah, I intend to perform Hajj.

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْحَجَّ فَيَسِّرْهُ لِي وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنِّي
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-Ḥajja fa yassirhu lī wa taqabbalhu minnī.

O Allah, I intend to perform Hajj, so make it easy for me and accept it from me.

Niyyah for Umrah and Hajj

This niyyah is to be made if you’re performing Hajj al-Qiran (Umrah and Hajj together).

لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً وَ حَجًّا
Labbayka Llāhumma ʿUmratan wa Ḥajja.

O Allah, here I am to perform Umrah and Hajj.

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ وَ الْحَجَّ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-ʿUmrata wa l-Ḥajj.

O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah and Hajj.

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ وَ الْحَجَّ فَيَسِّرْهُمَا لِي وَتَقَبَّلْهُمَا مِنِّي
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-ʿUmrata wa l-Ḥajja fa yassirhumā lī wa taqabbalhumā minnī.

O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah and Hajj, so make them easy for me and accept them from me.