Takbir at the Beginning of Salah is Obligatory
✍ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
✿ Evidence for the Obligation of Takbir at the Start of Salah
❶ Allah Almighty says:
وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرُ
[Al-Muddaththir: 3]
"And glorify your Lord (with His greatness)."
❷ Hazrat Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
مفتاح الصلاة الطهور وتحريمها التكبير وتحليلها التسليم
[Ḥasan: Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd: 577; Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Bāb al-Imām Yuḥaddith...; Abu Dāwūd: 618; Tirmidhi: 3; Ibn Mājah: 275; Ahmad: 1/129; Dārimī: 1/175]
"The key to prayer is purification, its entry is through Takbir, and its exit is through Salam."
❸ In the Hadith of the one who prayed incorrectly (Ḥadīth al-Musi’ Ṣalātah), the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed him to say the Takbir.
[Bukhari: 6251; Kitāb al-Isti’dhān: Bāb Man Radda fa Qāla ‘Alayka al-Salām; Muslim: 397]
❹ The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"A person's prayer is not valid until he performs Wudu and says the Takbir."
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd: 723; Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Bāb Ṣalāt Man Lā Yaqīm Ṣulbahu fi al-Rukū‘ wa al-Sujūd; Abu Dāwūd: 857]
❺ Hazrat Aishah (رضی اللہ عنہا) narrated:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would begin prayer with Takbir."
[Muslim: 498; Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Bāb Mā Yajma‘ Ṣifat al-Ṣalāh wa Mā Yaftaṭiḥu Bihi]
✿ Ruling Based on These Evidences
From all the above evidences, it is evident that saying the Takbir at the beginning of Salah is obligatory.
✔ The majority of scholars (Jumhūr) hold this view.
⚖ Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله):
It is permissible to begin Salah with any word that signifies glorification, such as Allahu Ajal, Allahu A‘zam, or al-Raḥmān Akbar.
⚖ Imam Abu Yusuf (رحمه الله) and Imam Muhammad (رحمه الله):
These alternatives are not valid. Rather, it is correct to begin with Allahu Akbar, Wa Allahu Akbar, or Wa Allahu al-Kabīr.
References:Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab: 3/252, al-Ḥāwī li’l-Māwardī: 2/93, Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn: 1/336, al-Mabsūṭ: 1/35, Sharḥ Fatḥ al-Qadīr: 1/246, Qudūrī: pp. 39–40
✔ Rajih (Most Authentic View):
Only “Allahu Akbar” should be said, as clearly established by authentic Ahadith.
✿ Raising the Hands with Takbir is Also Legislated
Narrated by Hazrat Ibn ‘Umar (رضی اللہ عنہما):
When the Prophet (ﷺ) stood for prayer:
رفع يديه حتى يكونا حذو منكبيه ثم يكبر
[Bukhari: 736; Kitāb al-Adhān: Bāb Raf‘ al-Yadayn ‘Inda al-Takbīr...; Muslim: 22]
"He would raise his hands up to the level of his shoulders, then say the Takbir."
