the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) Sunnah nor did his Sah?bah practice it nor those who followed their footsteps of the muslim ‘Ulamah’. (1)

As for articulating niyyah silently, it is not an obligation in Sal?t, Tah?rah nor in Sawm as the four Imams and other muslim ‘Ulamah held it.

Ab? D?w?d asked Im?m Ahmad: ‘Should the one doing Sal?t say any thing before reciting Takb?rat?l Ihr?m?’ Im?m Ahmad answered in the negative. (2)

As-Suy?t? said: ‘It is Bid‘ah to articulate the niyyah for Sal?t, it is not of the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) Sunnah nor was it the way of his Sah?ba ( - رضي الله عنه -). They used to recite Takb?r only [at the beginning of Sal?t]. All?h ( - عز وجل -) said: [ لقد كان لكم في رسول الله أسوة حسنة]

‘ Indeed in the messenger of All?h ( - عز وجل -) you have a good example to follow’. (3)

Ash-Sh?fi‘? said: ‘The existance of was-wasah [in one’s heart] concerning the niyyah for Sal?t and Tah?rah is the product of ignorance in the Shar’ or foolishness of mind’. (4)

Articulating Niyyah has many bad effects [on oneself and on others]; repeating articulating niyyah loudly many times after reciting Takb?rat?l Ihr?m is one of them.

Ibn Al-Jawzi dealt with this very issue saying: ‘It is of the Shait?n’s Waswasah to repeat saying Niyyah more than once thinking that the previous one was null and void. Other muslims repeat reciting Takb?rat?l Ihr?m till the Im?m reaches Ruk?‘ , then they join him in it. This is indeed of the Shait?n’s waswasah to prevent the muslim form gaining full reward for his acts of worship. Some of those who suffer from Waswasah way swear that they will never say Takb?r but once, they may even swear they will divorce