Q: What is Niyaz? Why & How is it done?
Answer: Niyaz is called Nazar in Arabic. It is mentioned in the Holy Quran.
وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن نَّفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُم مِّن نَّذْرٍۢ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُهُۥ ۗ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
Whatever charities you give or vows you make are indeed known to Allah. And the wrongdoers will have no helpers. (2:270)
يُوفُونَ بِٱلنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًۭا كَانَ شَرُّهُۥ مُسْتَطِيرًۭا . وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًۭا وَيَتِيمًۭا وَأَسِيرًا
They ˹are those who˺ fulfil ˹their˺ vows and fear a Day of sweeping horror, and give food—despite their desire for it—to the poor, the orphan, and the captive (76:7-8)
Niyaz is of two types. Sharai- that is done for Allah (SWT), and Urfi- that is done for Ambiya, Auliya, or family/friends. Niyaz, which is done for Allah SWT, is called Mannat. When the Niyaz is for Ambiya or Auliya, it is done to receive Barakat (Blessing). And when it is done for family/friends, it is for Isal-e-sawab of the deceased.
Sunan an-Nasa'i 3666:
It was narrated from Sa'd bin 'Ubadah that his mother died. He said:
"O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died; can I give charity on her behalf?" He said: "Yes." He said: "What kind of charity is best?" He said: "Providing drinking water." And that is the drinking fountain of Sa'd in Al-Madinah.
Mishkat al-Masabih 1912:
Sa'd b. 'Ubada told God's messenger that Umm Sa'd had died and asked him what form of sadaqa was best. When he replied that water was best, he dug a well and said it was for Umm Sa'd. Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.
To do Niyaz, you do Niyyat, which can be on water, food, digging up a well, or constructing a Masjid. For Example, suppose you are doing Niyaz of Rasool-Allah صلی الله علیہ وسلم.; the Niyyat should be "O Allah, I am performing Niyaz of Rasool-Allah صلی الله علیہ وسلم, please accept it and provide me Barakat for the sake of the Rasool, Mehdi." Allah (SWT) knows best.
Answer provided by
- Hazrath Peer-o-Murshid Mufti Syed Zameer Mahdi