And the second [position] is that it is valid because it serves a benefit, which is performing his obligatory prayer in congregation for multiplied reward (11), unlike the one who changes it for no purpose, for he has voided his action without a reason or benefit.

142 - Issue; he said: (And if the intention precedes the Takbir and comes after the entry of the time, as long as he has not rescinded it, it suffices him).

Our companions said: It is permissible to have the intention precede the Takbir by a short time. If the interval is long, or he rescinds his intention through that, it does not suffice him. The Qadi construed the words of Al-Khiraqi upon this and interpreted them accordingly. This is the school of Abu Hanifa. Al-Shafi'i and Ibn al-Mundhir said: It is required for the intention to be concurrent with the Takbir, due to His saying, the Almighty: "And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion" (1). His statement "sincere" is a state (hal) for them at the time of worship; for the state is a description (2) of the agent's condition at the time of the act, and sincerity is the intention. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "Actions are only by intentions." Furthermore, because the intention is a condition, it is not permissible for the act of worship to be devoid of it, like its other conditions. Our evidence is that it is an act of worship, so it is permissible for its intention to precede it, like fasting; and the precedence (3) of the intention before the act does not remove it from being intended, nor does it remove the agent from being sincere, as evidenced by fasting, and Zakat when he gives it to his agent, like the rest of the actions during the act of worship.

143 - Issue; he said: (And he raises his hands to the lobes of his ears, or to the level of his shoulders).

We know of no disagreement regarding the recommendation of raising the hands upon commencing the prayer. Ibn al-Mundhir said: The people of knowledge have not differed on the fact that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to raise his hands when he commenced the prayer. We have already mentioned the hadith of Abu Humayd (2), and Ibn Umar narrated, saying: I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) when...