What is the time for the intention in ablution (wudu') and prayer for the person suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (waswas) and for the one who is not, and is the intention in ablution before saying "Bismillah" (in the name of Allah)? What is the formula for saying "Bismillah," along with mentioning the proofs, and how should the person suffering from waswas deal with hesitation regarding the intention after the Takbir?

The question includes two issues:

First: The time for the intention (niyyah) and the recitation of Allah's name (tasmiyah) in ablution (wudu'): The time for the tasmiyah is at the beginning of wudu', and it is accompanied by the intention according to some scholars. Others say that the intention comes first, then the basmalah. For the tasmiyah, saying "Bismillah (In the name of Allah)" suffices, though "Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)" is better.

Second: The time for the intention in prayer: The original principle is for the intention to coincide with the takbirat al-ihram (the opening takbir). It is permissible to precede it by a short time according to the majority of scholars. It suffices for the worshipper to have a specific and firm intention for the prayer, such as intending in his heart to perform the Dhuhr prayer. If one enters prayer with a hesitant intention, his prayer is invalid due to the lack of decisiveness in the intention. However, if the worshipper hesitates after entering the prayer whether to interrupt it or not, it does not become invalid according to some scholars, and this is the correct view. For someone who suffers from waswas (obsessive whispering), specifying the prayer with a firm intention is sufficient, and he should not pay attention to any subsequent hesitation.