Is it better to verbalize the intention or not?

Question : Is it better to verbalize the intention?

Answer : Or not? And if we say it is better to verbalize it, should one do so in secret or aloud? In this matter as well, the correct view is that it is not recommended to verbalize the intention, because that has not been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), neither by his saying, nor his doing, nor his approval. So one does not verbalize the intention. Some people said one should verbalize it aloud to declare the worship, by analogy with Hajj, where the pilgrim says "Labbaik Hajj" (Here I am for Hajj). But this has no basis.
Among the amusing reports is that a common man stood next to a man praying in the Haram in old times, before people's understanding, comprehension, and knowledge had expanded. When this stranger wanted to pray next to the common man, he said: "O Allah, I intend to pray the Zuhr prayer, four rak'ahs, in the Sacred Mosque, behind the regular imam." When he was about to say the takbir, the common man said: "Stop, you are missing something." He asked: "What is missing?" He said: "The date is missing. You must say on such-and-such day, in such-and-such month, in such-and-such year." As long as the intention is meant to specify, it is necessary to mention the time. If you mentioned the place and the imam and the prayer, and the intention is to specify, you must mention the date. This is one of the amusing reports and is not strange for common people. By his nature, the common man rejects what the Shari'ah does not bring. By his nature, the common man rejects what the Shari'ah does not bring. I remember once in a gathering, some of the brothers spoke about the statement of the people of ta'til (denial of the divine attributes) regarding Allah's istiwaa' (rising above the Throne). They said: "He istawa' (rose) upon the Throne, meaning He took control of it." The common man said in the colloquial language: "May Allah give him work, if the Throne is his, then who had it before him?" A shaykh said: "Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), by Allah, it is amazing. Even I was amazed. I said: Did you hear what he said? Is he ashamed of what came before? Before this, it is clear: He created the heavens and the earth, then He took control. So who had the Throne before Him?" Subhan Allah. Yes, shaykh, the fitrah (innate natural disposition) is strange. The fitrah of common people rejects what the Shari'ah does not bring. Praise be to Allah. Yes.