such a practice, and that those whose reports constitute mass transmission could not, either in the ordinary course of events or under religious law, have concealed reports of it. Since no one has reported it, it is known with certainty that it never occurred.

Thus, later jurists disagree about verbalizing the intention: is it recommended alongside the intention in the heart? Some followers of Abū Hanīfah, al-Shāfiʿī, and Ahmad considered it recommended, saying that it reinforces the intention and gives it fuller expression. Other followers of Mālik, Ahmad, and others did not consider it recommended. This is also the explicitly stated position of Ahmad and others; indeed, they regarded it as a disliked innovation.

They said: Had it been recommended, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would have done it or commanded it. He explained everything that brings one closer to Allah, especially prayer, whose manner of performance must be learned from him alone. It is authentically established that he said:

“Pray as you have seen me pray.”

These scholars said: Adding this and similar practices to the manner of performing prayer is like introducing any other innovation into acts of worship—for example, adding the call to prayer and the call to commence prayer to the two Eid prayers, or adding two units of prayer on al-Marwah to the ritual walking between al-Safā and al-Marwah, and similar practices.

They also said: Verbalizing the intention is unsound on rational grounds. For someone to say, “I intend to do such and such,” is like saying, “I intend to eat this food