Forgot to say Verbal Niyah , is my Salah Valid?

Praise be to Allah

Summary: Niyah, or intention, for Salah is essential but does not need to be verbalized. The intention in your mind and heart is sufficient for the validity of your prayer.

Detailed Answer:

Niyah, the intention for Salah, signifies your conscious decision to perform a specific prayer. This intention must be made before starting the prayer; one cannot decide mid-prayer whether it is Zuhr or Asr. The mental intention is what holds significance.

 “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1

Key Points:

• Mental Intention Suffices:The most authentic opinion is that there is no need for verbalizing Niyah. The intention is in the head and heart, and this mental resolve is sufficient.
• Not a Condition for Salah: It is not a condition for Salah to say the Niyah out loud or move your tongue. Having a clear mental intention of what you are doing is enough.]
• Scholarly Opinions: Some scholars believe that reinforcing the intention verbally is permissible if it helps reinforce what is in the heart, but it is not necessary.
• Teaching Children:Verbal Niyah is often practiced to teach children mindfulness and clarity while they are learning to pray. It helps them understand and be aware of the specific Salah they are performing.
• Habitual Forgetfulness: If a person tends to forget which Salah they are praying, they can verbally remind themselves. However, this is for personal clarity and not a requirement.

No Hadith Evidence:

There is no evidence from Hadiths that verbal Niyah is part of the Salah. It has not been reported as a practice of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
According to Islam Q&A, the place for the intention is the heart, and there is a consensus among scholars that verbalizing it is not required. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah mentioned that if a person knows what they are doing, then they have made the intention. It is not prescribed to say it out loud, and doing so is considered an innovation that was not practiced by the Prophet or his companions.

Conclusion:
While verbal Niyah can be helpful for some, it is not a requirement for Salah. The most authentic view is that having the intention in your mind and heart is sufficient for the validity of your prayer. Muslims should focus on their mental and heartfelt intentions to fulfill the requirements of Salah. As always, Allah knows best.