Fatwaa ID: 401

Question:
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Just after I begin my salaah by raising my hands and reading thana, I remember that i may have forgotten to make niyyah, or made niyyah for another salaah (e.g dhuhr instead of Asr).

Do we break our salaah and start afresh? If so, how do we break the salaah. And do we have to break the salaah if behind an imam?

JazakAllah

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

1. It is not clear what you mean by “forgotten to make niyyah”. Did you start your salaah subconsciously? No one in their right mind comes and starts performing salaah without an intention in mind. If your are referring to a verbal intention, then there is no precedence to that from Nabi (S). The intention is an action of the heart/mind. It should not be verbalized. As long as you started with the correct intention in the mind, your salaah will be valid.
2. If you make the wrong intention, then you will have to break the salaah and restart.
3. To break your salaah, you will perform one Salaam to the right.
4. The above is applicable whether you are performing salaah individually or in congregation.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

06/23/1444 AH – 01/16/2023 CE | AMG3-3166

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

__________________
Disclaimer

Darul Iftaa New York answers questions on issues pertaining to Shari’ah. These questions and answers are placed for public view on askthemufti.us for educational purposes. The rulings given here are based on the questions posed and should be read in conjunction with the questions. Many answers are unique to a particular scenario and cannot be taken as a basis to establish a ruling in another situation. 

Darul Iftaa New York bears no responsibility with regard to its answers being used out of their intended contexts, nor with regard to any loss or damage that may be caused by acting on its answers or not doing so.

References and links to other websites should not be taken as an endorsement of all contents of those websites. 

Answers may not be used as evidence in any court of law without prior written consent of Darul Iftaa New York.