Can You Say Niyyah for Wudu in English? Permissibility and Explanation

"Pronouncing Niyyah for wudu in English" might sound strange or even unnecessary to discuss. However, it becomes an important topic to explain if you encounter a Muslim who doesn’t speak Arabic—or perhaps you’re one yourself and are seeking an explanation on this matter.

Whatever your reason for reading this article, I’m confident that you’re looking for guidance on how to express the Niyyah for wudu in English. And don’t worry! If that’s your goal, you will find a clear explanation by the time you finish this article. So, make sure to read it through to the end!

Why Is Niyyah for Wudu Important?

Hello! Do you understand why the Niyyah for wudu is significant? Let me explain this before delving into how to express the Niyyah for wudu in English, which is the main focus of this discussion.

Read Also: What Types of Farts Break Wudu?

In general, you can find the importance of Niyyah (including the Niyyah for wudu in this context) explained in the following hadith:

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 radliyallahu anhu, the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Actions are judged by intentions (Niyyah), and each person will receive according to what he intended. Whoever emigrates for Allah and His Messenger, his emigration is for Allah and His Messenger. But whoever emigrates for worldly gains or to marry a woman, then his emigration is for whatever purpose he emigrated for."

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam emphasizes that Niyyah plays a crucial role in determining the value of one's actions. Niyyah serves as the measure of whether a person's actions are righteous because it reflects the intention behind them. The same applies to wudu.

As we know, wudu involves washing and wiping specific parts of the body in a prescribed manner. It is performed with pure water, with the primary aim of removing minor impurities (hadas) and as an act of worship to Allah. Without Niyyah, however, all the washing and wiping are merely ordinary actions that neither remove minor hadas nor qualify as acts of worship to Allah.

So, if you’re wondering, "Why is Niyyah for wudu important?" The answer is, "Because Niyyah determines our purpose in washing and wiping specific parts of our body during wudu."

Can You Say Niyyah for Wudu in English?

Now, I will explain the main topic of this discussion: Can Niyyah for wudu be expressed in English? Is it permissible? And how can you say it? I hope that after reading the explanation below, all your questions about this will be cleared up.

To be clear, if we review some Islamic legal texts on Niyyah in general, we do not find any requirement to express Niyyah in a specific language, including Arabic, within this context. Some Islamic texts explain Niyyah in Arabic (such as Niyyah for fasting and other acts) because the primary sources of Islamic knowledge, the Quran and hadith, are in Arabic.

Please note! I am not talking about strict adherence to the sunnah, such as saying the Niyyah for prayer in Arabic. I’m specifically addressing the legality of expressing Niyyah for general matters in any language. It would be problematic to force someone to say something in a language they do not understand because it may prevent them from grasping the purpose of their action.

So, imagine a scenario where someone asks about the legality of saying Niyyah for wudu in English or any language other than Arabic—or maybe that person is you, wanting to say Niyyah for wudu but not knowing Arabic. In such cases, the priority should be that the person understands the meaning and purpose behind what they are saying.

Before addressing the question of whether you can say Niyyah for wudu in English, I want to clarify once again that the purpose of wudu is to remove minor hadas as an act of worship and obligation to Allah. All Muslims who perform wudu must understand this, and it must be reflected in the Niyyah for wudu.

Considering this, I believe that pronouncing the Niyyah for wudu in English is permissible because the most important factor is understanding the meaning and purpose behind the Niyyah you express.

Niyyah for Wudu in Arabic or English: What's More Important?

Now, I will explain the final point, which is still related to the main topic of this discussion: What’s more important, saying the Niyyah for wudu in Arabic or English? I want you to understand this at the conclusion of our discussion, as it’s a logical question if someone is able to say the Niyyah for wudu in both languages.

Once again, if we examine various Islamic legal texts, we won’t find a specific statement that declares pronouncing the Niyyah for wudu in one particular language as being more important. For this reason, it is difficult to definitively conclude which language should take precedence when pronouncing the Niyyah for wudu.

So, what’s the answer to this question?

Personally, if I were faced with this question, I would prefer to say the Niyyah for wudu in Arabic. My reason is that the Prophet Muhammad said the Niyyah for wudu in Arabic. In Islam, all prayers and dhikr (and the Niyyah for wudu is one of them) that he taught or recited are often more comforting when said in Arabic. Of course, this is a personal feeling. I also find more satisfaction when I am able to say things related to worship in Arabic.

However, what I mentioned in the paragraph above is my personal opinion. If you have a different view, that is your right.

Have a question? Please feel free to write in the comment section!