Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

To my understanding Niyyah is important before Taqbir. During Taraweeh prayers, after eight rakahs, the imam does not announce whether he is continuing with Taraweeh prayer or he is going to pray Witr. Neither does he follow the same pattern every day. Should I wait for him to see what surah he recites after Al-Fatihah then make my Niyyah and start praying? 

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Answer:

Neeyah before witr

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: To my understanding Niyyah is important before Taqbir.

As much as the ‘neeyah’ is an obligatory part of prayer in Shariah, a ‘neeyah’ is no more than the intention one makes in one’s heart when one intends to offer a prayer. There is absolutely no obligation nor is it necessary in Shariah for one to make or declare the ‘neeyah’ or intention verbally….the intention one makes in one’s heart at the beginning of the prayer would more than suffice to fulfill the obligation of ‘neeyah’ for prayer.

Your Question: During Taraweeh prayers, after eight rakahs, the imam does not announce whether he is continuing with Taraweeh prayer or he is going to pray Witr. Neither does he follow the same pattern every day. Should I wait for him to see what surah he recites after Al-Fatihah then make my Niyyah and start praying? 

If the ‘imaam’ of the masjid one normally offers their ‘tarawih’ prayer for any reason does not make the declaration that he is about to start the ‘witr’ prayers, nor does he keep to a similar or same routine everyday……there is absolutely no harm in offering the ‘witr’ prayer along with the ‘imaam’ with the ‘neeyah’ made at the beginning of their ‘tarawih’ prayers….for the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘the prayer of the ‘Imaam’ is the prayer of the ‘muktadi’ (those who pray behind him).’

Respected brother, the very essence of making a ‘neeyah’ is that one makes intention before one starts the deed, not after or during the deed itself. Thus if you are praying the voluntary ‘tarawih’ prayers behind an ‘imam’ who for any reason does not announce the start of ‘witr’ prayers after the completion of ‘tarawih’, or does not keep to a daily routine, etc….the ‘neeyah’ that you made at the start of your ‘tarawih’ prayers would more than suffice and you need not make a ‘neeyah’ before every ‘rakah’ or ‘salaam’ thereafter.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan