In explaining the ḥadīth (narration), “He would begin his Ṣalāt (prayer) by saying Allāhu Akbar” Sheikh Al Albānī said, “The ḥadīth indicates that he did not begin it by saying “I intend to pray”. In fact, the consensus of the scholars is that this is bid’ah (an innovation).” [Ṣifat al Ṣalāt (Description of Prayer), p.86]