and all the other imams of the Muslims, both early and later. There is no disagreement on this among the scholars who are followed and whose views are relied upon in issuing fatwas. Some later followers of the imams, however, claimed that verbalizing the intention is obligatory, though they did not say that stating it aloud is obligatory. Even so, this view is plainly erroneous, contrary to the consensus of the Muslims and to what is necessarily known of the religion of Islam by anyone familiar with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the practice of his caliphs, and how the Companions and their successors prayed. Anyone familiar with this knows that they did not verbalize their intentions, nor did the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, command them to do so or teach this to any of the Companions. Rather, it is established in the two Sahīh collections and elsewhere that he said to the Bedouin who prayed incorrectly:

“When you stand to pray, say ‘Allah is the Greatest,’ then recite whatever you can of the Quran.”

In the Sunan collections, it is reported that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The key to prayer is purification; its inviolable state begins with the declaration ‘Allah is the Greatest’ and ends with the salutation of peace.”

In Sahīh Muslim, it is reported from ʿĀ’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would begin the prayer with the declaration ‘Allah is the Greatest,’ and begin the recitation with ‘All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds.’”

It is established through mass transmission and the consensus of the Muslims that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Companions would begin the prayer with the declaration “Allah is the Greatest.” No Muslim has transmitted, either from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or from any of the Companions, that he verbalized his intention before this declaration, whether quietly or aloud, or that he commanded this. It is well known that there would have been ample motivation and incentive to report such a practice if there had been