HOW TO PERFORM "TAKBIRT AL-IHRAM"

[Rajaee]

Everything there is to know about the first "Allahu Akbar"

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.