wuḍūʾ, and, just as in wuḍūʾ, it is likewise obligatory in ghusl and tayammum; this too is the view of al-Hasan and Isḥāq.”

The three leading Imams, however, regarded it as a sunnah rather than an obligation. Non-obligation is also one of the two reports from Aḥmad, a view preferred by al-Khiraqī, al-Muwaffaq, the commentator, and others.

Al-Khallāl said, “That is the position to which the narrations have ultimately settled.”

Shaykh Taqī al-Dīn stated, “The basmalah is not a prerequisite according to the sounder view.”

Aḥmad declared, “I do not know of any sound ḥadīth on the basmalah.”

Al-Majd observed, “Every ḥadīth concerning the basmalah has some weakness in its chain.”

Al-Sakhāwī said, “I am unaware of anyone who considers the basmalah obligatory except for what is reported in one of the two narrations from Aḥmad.”