Ruling 934. Saying ‘allāhu akbar’ at the beginning of every prayer is obligatory and an elementary part of the prayer. The letters in ‘allāh’ and ‘akbar’, as well as the two words ‘allāh’ and ‘akbar’, must be said in succession. Furthermore, these two words must be pronounced in correct Arabic; if someone pronounces them in incorrect Arabic or, for example, says their translation in English, it is not correct.

Ruling 935. The recommended precaution is that takbīrat al‑iḥrām should not be joined to anything that was said before it, such as the iqāmah or a duʿāʾ that was recited before the takbīr.

Ruling 936. If a person wants to join ‘allāhu akbar’ with something after it, for example, with ‘bismil lāhir raḥmānir raḥīm’, it is better that the letter ‘r’ in ‘akbar’ be given a ḍammah [i.e. it would be pronounced ‘akbaru’]. However, the recommended precaution is that one should not join it in obligatory prayers.

Ruling 937. When saying takbīrat al‑iḥrām in an obligatory prayer, the body must be still; if one intentionally says takbīrat al‑iḥrām while his body is moving, it is invalid.

Ruling 938. One must say takbīr, Sūrat al-Ḥamd, the other surah, dhikr, and duʿāʾs in a manner that he at least hears his own voice. If he cannot hear it on account of being hard of hearing or deaf or there being too much noise, he must say them in a manner that he would have been able to hear them were there no impediment.

Ruling 939. If due to some reason one has become dumb or has some speech impediment that prevents him from saying ‘allāhu akbar’, he must say it in whatever way he can. If he cannot say the takbīr at all, he must say it in his heart and indicate with his finger in a manner that suitably conveys the words, and he must also move his tongue and lips if he can. As for someone born dumb, he must move his tongue and lips in a manner that resembles someone pronouncing the takbīr while also indicating with his finger.

Ruling 940. Before takbīrat al‑iḥrām, it is good that one says the following with the intention of rajāʾ:

يَا مُحْسِنُ قَدْ أَتَاكَ الْمُسِيْءُ، وَقَدْ أَمَرْتَ الْمُحْسِنَ أَنْ يَتَجَاْوَزَ عَنِ الْمُسِيْءِ، أَنْتَ الْمُحْسِنُ وَأَنَا الْمُسِيْءُ، بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، صَلِّ عَلَیٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْ قَبِيْحِ مَا تَعْلَمُ مِنِّيْ

yā muḥsinu qad atākal musīyʾ, wa qad amartal muḥsina an yatajāwaza ʿanil musīyʾ, antal muḥsinu wa anal musīyʾ, biḥaqqi muḥammadin wa āli muḥammad, ṣalli ʿalā muḥammadin wa āli muḥammad, wa tajāwaz ʿan qabīḥi mā taʿlamu minnī

O the Benevolent! A sinful person has come to You, and You have instructed the benevolent to overlook the sinner. You are the Benevolent and I am the sinner. By the right of Muḥammad and the progeny of Muḥammad, bless Muḥammad and the progeny of Muḥammad, and overlook my ugly acts of which You are aware.

Ruling 941. When saying takbīrat al‑iḥrām of the prayer and the takbīrs during the prayer, it is recommended for one to raise his hands up to his ears.

Ruling 942. If a person doubts whether he has said takbīrat al‑iḥrām or not, in the event that he has started qirāʾah, he must not pay any attention to his doubt; but if he has not yet recited anything, he must say the takbīr.

Ruling 943. If after saying takbīrat al‑iḥrām one doubts whether he said it correctly or not, he must not pay any attention to his doubt, whether he has already started saying something or not.