Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
When Marwan ibn al-Hakam was the governor of Madinah, Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) was appointed to lead the prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid Nabawi). On one occasion, he fell ill, so Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (radi Allahu anhu) led the people in prayer. Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) had previously established a chapter (117) with the following words: “Saying the takbir when standing up after completing the prostration (sujud).” There, he presented the hadiths of Ibn ‘Abbas and Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhum) that when rising from prostration, one should say Allahu Akbar. In the present chapter as well, the same matter is mentioned. It may appear to be a repetition. The answer is that in the chapter heading, “two prostrations” refers to “rak‘ahs” (units of prayer), as is clarified in the mentioned narration. In chapter 117, the discussion is about saying Allahu Akbar when rising after the second prostration of the first and third rak‘ah, and in this chapter, it is about saying the takbir when rising after completing the first tashahhud.

(2)
There is a difference of opinion regarding when the takbir should be said after two rak‘ahs: Should it be started while rising, which is called the “takbir of transition” (takbir intiqal), or should Allahu Akbar be said after standing up straight, which is called the “takbir of standing” (takbir qiyam)? Imam Malik’s position is that this is the takbir of standing, while according to the majority, it is called the takbir of transition. Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah), supporting the view of the majority, has established the present chapter and presented the relevant hadiths. And Allah knows best.