Reference: Fataawa tata’allaq bi-Jamaa’atil-Masjid, Question 3, Page 33
Liqaa. al-Baab al-Maftooh, Volume 20, Page 12
Question: Is it imperative to move the lips in the prayer when supplicating or reciting, or is it sufficient to simply recite without moving the lips?
Response: It is imperative to move the lips whilst reciting the Qur.aan in the prayer and likewise reciting the obligatory supplications such as the takbeer (the saying of Allaahu Akbar), the tasmee’ (the saying of Sami’Allaahu liman Hamidah), the tahmeed (the saying of al-Hamdu-lillaah) and the tashahhud. This is because it is not regarded as speech unless it is verbally pronounced, and likewise there is no verbal pronouncement except by moving the lips and the tongue. Due to this, the companions knew when the Prophet ﷺ was reciting because of the movement of his beard.
However, the scholars have differed in opinion – is it obligatory to hear oneself or is it sufficient to simply verbally pronounce the words [without making any sound]? So, from amongst them there are those who say: It is imperative to hear oneself, i.e. that there is sound emanating from his mouth [and he moves his lips] and amongst them are those who say it is sufficient that he verbally pronounces the words [without making any sound] and this is [the] correct [opinion].
