niyat

Niyat, often transliterated as niyya or niyyat, is an Arabic term meaning intention or inner resolve. In Islamic thought, it denotes the purpose or plan with which a person performs an action, and it is considered the key factor that determines whether an action is accepted as worship or not.

In Islamic jurisprudence, the niyat is typically understood as an inward state of the heart, rather than something that can be perceived externally. The outward act alone does not guarantee spirituality; the intention behind it converts a mundane motion into worship, or frames it as a lawful act.

A widely cited saying about niyat comes from the Prophet Muhammad: "Actions are judged by intentions" (a hadith found in major collections such as Bukhari and Muslim). The Qur'an emphasizes sincerity in worship alongside correct outward practice, highlighting that both intention and action matter in religious life.

In practice, most Islamic legal schools hold that a valid worship act requires a corresponding intention. The precise timing and form of the niyat can vary by act and school; generally, the intention is made in the heart and is not spoken aloud. People typically form their niyat before initiating a ritual, such as daily prayer, fasting during Ramadan, or performing Hajj. For non-worship acts, intention remains a matter of personal resolve but is not required for religious validity.

Beyond ritual use, niyat is also employed in everyday language to refer to one's purposes or goals, reflecting a broader sense of motive and accountability in thought and action.