Is Niyyah Necessary for Wudu? Understanding the Importance of Niyyah in Wudu

There is much discussion about Niyyah for wudu in Islamic legal literature. In fact, it is a fundamental concept that Muslims must learn. If we visit several Islamic institutions, we will find that Niyyah for wudu (or wudu in a more general context) is the foundational material that students need to understand before learning other topics. The question is: Is Niyyah necessary for wudu? Is that correct?

Regardless of your reason for opening this article, I am confident that you are seeking an explanation of the main topic of this discussion: Is Niyyah necessary for wudu? I promise I won't let you down today. Why? Because that's what I'm going to explain now. So, be sure to read this article to the end!

Niyyah for Wudu: Key Points You Should Understand

Hi! Do you know the key points about Niyyah for wudu that you should understand? If anyone doesn't grasp it all, don't worry! That is what I will explain at the beginning of this discussion.

Read Also: What Types of Farts Break Wudu?

I don't want to beat around the bush. In general, here are some main points about Niyyah for wudu:

• The literal meaning of Niyyah includes deliberate (القَصْدُ), will (الإِرَادَةُ), determination (العَزْمُ), direction (الجِهَةُ), and displacement (التَّحَوُّلُ).
• The meaning of Niyyah is the determination to do something (اِنْعِقَادُ الْقَلْبِ عَلَى عَمَلِ الشَّيْءِ).
• The meaning of Niyyah for wudu is the determination to wash and purify several parts of the body to remove minor hadas as an obligation and act of worship to Allah.
• Niyyah for wudu is recited when Muslims perform the first action required in wudu (washing the face).

These are the four main points regarding Niyyah for wudu that you should understand at the beginning of this discussion.

Is Niyyah Necessary for Wudu?

Now I will explain the main topic of this discussion: Is Niyyah necessary for wudu? I want you to understand this well so that you have no further questions about it. However, if you still have questions (related to this topic), please write them in the comment section. So, make sure to read the explanation below carefully.

Before I answer that question, I will quote one hadith that is specifically related to this discussion. The hadith I mean is as follows:

عَنْ عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهم عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّةِ وَلِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ لدُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ

From Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) (peace be upon him) said, "Actions depend on intentions (Niyyah), and a person only receives according to their intention. Whoever emigrated for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, then their emigration was to Allah and His Messenger; and whoever emigrated for worldly gains or for a woman he wanted to marry, then his emigration was according to what he intended."

Hi! Are you still with me? The above hadith explains the importance of Niyyah in everything one does. If one's Niyyah is good, then the action will be good, and vice versa.

For example, if we eat with the intention of worshiping Allah, understanding that if we are hungry, we lack the strength to worship Allah, then our meal will be considered an act of worship. Of course, we will be rewarded. But if we eat merely to fill our stomachs, then we will only satisfy our hunger. In this latter context, what we eat will only have the value of sustenance.

Now, if you are still wondering, "Is Niyyah necessary for wudu?", the answer is, "Of course. Niyyah is necessary for wudu; in fact, it is essential for wudu."

What Happens If You Perform Wudu Without Niyyah?

Now I will explain the final point related to the main topic of this discussion: What happens if you perform wudu without Niyyah? I want you to have a clear understanding of this by the end of our discussion.

In general, three important things will happen if you perform wudu without Niyyah:

1. Normal Washing and Stroking: If you perform wudu without Niyyah, all the washing and stroking you do will simply be regular washing and stroking. I won’t elaborate on this too much because it’s straightforward. Niyyah determines the status of an action. If the Niyyah is to perform wudu, then all the washing and rubbing done is indeed wudu. Conversely, if the Niyyah is not for performing wudu, then the washing and rubbing are not considered wudu.
2. Inability to Remove Small Hadath: The washing and wiping you perform without the Niyyah for wudu will not remove minor hadath, nor will it be considered an act of worship to Allah. The purpose of wudu is to remove minor hadath as an obligation for worshiping Allah. If you wash and wipe various parts of your body without the Niyyah for performing wudu, you will not achieve that goal.
3. Restrictions on Rituals: If you have minor hadath, you cannot perform rituals that require wudu. This is very clear. Minor hadath will not be removed if your washing and rubbing are not valid wudu (unless you are performing ghusl for major impurity). If you have minor hadath, then you cannot perform rituals that necessitate wudu. Please pay attention to the two hadiths below:

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ بْنِ طَلْقٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِذَا فَسَا أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلْيَنْصَرِفْ وَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ وَلْيُعِدْ الصَّلَاةَ . رَوَاهُ الْخَمْسَةَ

From Ali bin Thalq (may Allah be pleased with him), he said, "The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) (peace be upon him) said, 'If one of you emits a soundless wind from his anus while praying (salat), let him go out, perform wudu, and then repeat the prayer (salat).' This hadith was narrated by five sources (Ahmad, Abu Daud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah).

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : لَا يَقْبَلُ اللهُ صَلَاةَ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا أَحْدَثَ حَتَّى يَتَوَضَّأَ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) (peace be upon him) said, "Allah does not accept the prayer of anyone among you if he has minor hadath until he performs wudu." This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Do you have any questions? Please write them in the comment section!