Hence, attention must be drawn to a mistake committed by many imams during prayer: they delay the takbīrs of transition until after the movement is complete. Thus, for example, they pronounce the takbīr for moving from prostration to standing only once they are already upright. Let them beware of this and perform the takbīr in the manner that is preferable.
-
The takbīr is prescribed in every one of these transitions except when rising from bowing. In that case the imam and the person praying alone say, “Samiʿa Allahu liman ḥamidah,” while the follower says, “Rabbana wa laka al-ḥamd.”
-
The takbīr is the hallmark of the prayer. The phrase “Allahu akbar” means that Allah is greater than everything.
Disagreement among the scholars:
The scholars unanimously agree that the takbīrs of transition between the pillars of the prayer—whether it is an obligatory or a supererogatory prayer—are legislated, for the Prophet ﷺ consistently pronounced them and said, “When he pronounces the takbīr, you should pronounce the takbīr.”
They differed only over whether these takbīrs are obligatory. Imam Ahmad and the majority of hadith scholars held that they are obligatory, citing the command to utter them, the Prophet’s continual practice of them, and his statement, “Pray as you have seen me pray” (al-Bukhari 605).
The imams Abu Ḥanīfah, Mālik, and al-Shāfiʿī, however, maintained that the takbīrs are sunnah rather than obligatory, basing this on the ḥadith of the man who prayed poorly.
Al-Nawawī and others said: every takbīr other than the opening takbīr is sunnah, not obligatory. If someone omits it, his prayer remains valid, though it is disliked to leave it out deliberately.
I say: the aḥādīth in question are to be understood as recommending the practice; this reconciles the various reports. This is the position of the overwhelming majority of scholars, although the first opinion is the safer one.