The Ruling on Verbalizing the Intention Before the Takbir of Ihram
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Question:
The listener Muhammad Ali Muhammad from Al-Hudaydah, Yemen, says: There is an imam who, when he enters the prayer, verbalizes the intention before the takbir of ihram in a loud voice. He says, for example, “I am praying the obligatory Maghrib prayer of three rak’ahs, facing the qiblah,” and then he says the takbir of ihram. He says that this verbalization is a sunnah. We ask you to guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The correct view is that verbalizing the intention is not a sunnah, but rather a bid’ah (religious innovation). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not verbalize the intention, nor did his Companions. Rather, he would stand with the intention of prayer in his heart, then say the takbir. The Companions did the same. Therefore, verbalizing the intention, saying “I intend to pray such and such” at the time of ihram, is something newly invented. Even if some jurists said it, it is a statement for which there is no evidence. When the statements of jurists conflict, they are referred to the Book and the Sunnah. What agrees with the evidence must be adopted, and what contradicts it must be abandoned. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Al-Nisa: 59]. And He said, the Exalted: [Al-Shura: 10].
There is nothing in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that indicates verbalizing the intention. However, when the believer stands for prayer, he intends in his heart that he is praying the Zuhr, ‘Asr, or Maghrib prayer, and so on. The female believer does the same, without any need for verbalization.
Therefore, it is necessary to inform this person and advise him so that he acts in accordance with the Sunnah and abandons the bid’ah (religious innovation). We ask Allah for guidance for everyone. Yes.
The listener Muhammad Ali Muhammad from Al-Hudaydah, Yemen, says: There is an imam who, when he enters the prayer, verbalizes the intention before the takbir of ihram in a loud voice. He says, for example, “I am praying the obligatory Maghrib prayer of three rak’ahs, facing the qiblah,” and then he says the takbir of ihram. He says that this verbalization is a sunnah. We ask you to guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The correct view is that verbalizing the intention is not a sunnah, but rather a bid’ah (religious innovation). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not verbalize the intention, nor did his Companions. Rather, he would stand with the intention of prayer in his heart, then say the takbir. The Companions did the same. Therefore, verbalizing the intention, saying “I intend to pray such and such” at the time of ihram, is something newly invented. Even if some jurists said it, it is a statement for which there is no evidence. When the statements of jurists conflict, they are referred to the Book and the Sunnah. What agrees with the evidence must be adopted, and what contradicts it must be abandoned. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِAnd in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah.
وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِThere is nothing in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that indicates verbalizing the intention. However, when the believer stands for prayer, he intends in his heart that he is praying the Zuhr, ‘Asr, or Maghrib prayer, and so on. The female believer does the same, without any need for verbalization.
Therefore, it is necessary to inform this person and advise him so that he acts in accordance with the Sunnah and abandons the bid’ah (religious innovation). We ask Allah for guidance for everyone. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.