sharing—namely, one that conveys absolute superiority—or to use an expression that does not preclude sharing?
The answer: The former is better. Allah says of Himself, “Allah knows best”; so how can you say, “Allah is knowing”? This entails some deficiency in meaning.
Thus, we say that “Allah is Most Great” is a comparative expression in its proper sense, with that to which He is compared omitted so as to encompass everything. He is greater than everything, glorified and exalted is He. The same applies to “more knowing.”
Question: How should this phrase be pronounced?
Answer: The scholars said that it is disliked to elongate the takbir (1), even when rising from prostration to standing, despite the length of the rise, and even when descending into prostration, despite the length of the movement from standing to prostration. They said that this is because the sunnah contains no report of it; therefore, it is disliked. This is what the jurists, may Allah have mercy on them, explicitly stated.
However, the apparent view—and Allah knows best—is that there is latitude in this matter so long as the meaning is not impaired. Yet elongating it is no better than shortening it, as some people imagine. Some people say that one should give the takbir for bowing a particular form, the takbir for prostration another form, the takbir for sitting another form, the tashahhud another form, and the interval between the two prostrations another form, so that the follower behind you becomes like a moving machine. For when the takbirs differ, the follower responds to each takbir: even if his heart is inattentive, when you utter the takbir for prostration, he prostrates, and when you utter the takbir for rising, he rises. But if you keep all the takbirs short and do not distinguish between them, the follower will keep his heart and mind attentive, fearing that he may stand where he should sit or sit where he should stand. As for one who joined the prayer late, the matter may become confusing for him if you do not distinguish between