you would hear yourself were it not for the impediment. However, we have previously explained that there is no evidence for stipulating that one must hear oneself, and that the correct view is that once a person clearly articulates the letters, the takbir and recitation are valid. Thus, in every verbal utterance, hearing oneself is not a condition.

Strangely, they stated here that hearing oneself is a condition for the takbir and recitation, yet they said that if a man tells his wife, “You are divorced,” the divorce takes effect even if he does not hear himself. The evidence would indicate that, regarding what is due to Allah, one should be treated according to the easier ruling. So how can we apply the stricter ruling concerning Allah’s right and say, “You must hear yourself,” while, concerning a human being’s right—especially divorce, which is disliked in principle—we say that divorce takes effect even if you do not hear yourself?

Then he grasps the wrist of his left hand …

His statement, “Then he grasps the wrist of his left hand,” means that after the takbir and raising the hands, he grasps the wrist of his left hand. Some people say, “Allahu akbar,” then let their hands hang at their sides, and afterward raise them and grasp them. This has no basis. Rather, as soon as they lower their hands after raising them, they should grasp the wrist.

The wrist is the joint of the hand with the forearm. Opposite it is the kursūʿ, and between them lies the wrist-joint.

Thus, the wrist is the bone on the side of the thumb, while the kursūʿ is the one on the side of the little finger. The wrist-joint is what lies between them. The following lines were composed on this:

The bone beside the thumb is the wrist;
Beside the little finger is the kursūʿ, with the wrist-joint between.

And the bone beside the big toe is called the būʿ;
So learn this well, and beware of error.