Pronouncing the intention with the tongue

Question

Is pronouncing the intention of the prayer with the tongue a bid‘a (innovation in religion)? If it is a bid‘a, is the prayer of one who made the intention with the tongue valid or not? It is said of Imam Abu Hanifa ﵀ that he called it bid‘a. What is the correct position? If it is a bid‘a in the Hanafi madhhab, why do other books of fiqh teach making the intention with the tongue?

Answer

Pronouncing the words of the intention with the tongue is not necessary, yet neither is it a prohibited bid‘a: if he pronounces them he will not be sinful, and if he does not, the prayer will not become fasid (invalid). The intention is the name for what is intended by the heart, and that suffices for performing the prayer.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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