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Scholars differed concerning someone praying behind an imam who, while bowing, remembers that he omitted the opening takbīr, having pronounced the takbīr for bowing, and expects that he can rise, pronounce the opening takbīr, and still catch that unit. One view is that he continues and repeats the prayer; another is that he rises, pronounces the opening takbīr, and catches the unit; and a third is that he breaks off with the salām and catches the unit. If he did not pronounce the takbīr for bowing but pronounced the takbīr for prostration, he breaks off unless he has already bowed in the second unit, whether or not he pronounced its takbīr. This is stated in the book of Ibn al-Mawwāz. If he has bowed, he continues and repeats the prayer after making up one unit. If he intended the takbīr for prostration as the opening takbīr, it suffices, and he makes up one unit after the imam’s salām. This is the ruling concerning someone praying behind an imam who forgets the opening takbīr.
If, however, he doubts whether he pronounced it and becomes aware of this before bowing, or after bowing without having pronounced the takbīr for bowing, one view is that he breaks off and pronounces the opening takbīr—meaning that he breaks off with the salām. Al-Wādiha contains evidence that he breaks off without the salām. And Allah knows best. Another view is that he continues and repeats the prayer. If he does not become aware of this until he has pronounced the takbīr for bowing, he continues and repeats the prayer.
As for someone who pronounces the opening takbīr before his imam, one view is that he is treated in every respect as someone who did not pronounce it. Another is that, if he realizes this before bowing, or after bowing without having pronounced the takbīr for bowing, he breaks off with the salām and joins the imam. A further view is that, if he realizes this before bowing, he breaks off without the salām; but if he realizes it after bowing without having pronounced the takbīr for bowing, he breaks off with the salām. This is the position of Ibn al-Qāsim. If he does not realize it until he has pronounced the takbīr for bowing, he continues and repeats the prayer, without disagreement.
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Someone praying alone or leading the prayer who forgets the opening takbīr breaks off whenever he remembers and pronounces the opening takbīr. If he remembers before praying one unit, he breaks off without the salām. If he remembers after one unit, one view is that he breaks off with the salām; another is that he breaks off without it and repeats the iqāma.
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If someone praying alone or leading the prayer doubts whether he pronounced the opening takbīr, one view is that he continues until he completes the prayer, then repeats it. If he is the imam, he asks the congregation: if they are certain that he pronounced the opening takbīr, their prayer is valid; if they are not certain, they repeat the prayer. This view supports our position that, according to Mālik’s school, the intention may precede the opening takbīr. Another view is that he is treated as someone who is certain that he omitted it: he breaks off whenever he becomes aware of this. A further view is that, if this occurs before he bows, he breaks off; but if he has already bowed, he continues and repeats the prayer, unless he is the imam and the congregation are certain that he pronounced the opening takbīr. And in