The Maliki school regards the opening supplication as Mustahabb (recommended), though Imam Malik reportedly did not recite it aloud or consider it part of the prayer's essential structure. The Hanbali school considers it Sunnah, preferring the Subhanaka version, similar to the Shafi’is.
Dua al-Iftitah, meaning "The Opening Supplication," is a cornerstone of spiritual practice during the holy month of Ramadan. Taught by the Twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi (as), this profound prayer is traditionally recited every night of Ramadan to mold a believer’s attitude toward their Creator and to foster a deeper understanding of divine leadership. Dua Al-iftitah Pdf
Du‘ā’ al-Iftitāḥ is far more than a liturgical ornament. It is a condensed course in Shī‘ī theology—tawḥīd, nubuwwah, imāmah, and ma‘ād (resurrection). Its recitation during Ramaḍān not only opens the month but opens the believer to a worldview where praise, politics, and messianic hope are inseparable. Future research should examine its manuscript variations and its reception in non-Arabic contexts (Persian, Urdu, English translations). For the faithful, however, its depth lies not in analysis but in the act of raising hands: Allāhumma innā nastaftiḥuka — “O Allah, we ask You to open [the door of mercy].” The Maliki school regards the opening supplication as
(Child-friendly version) from Buzz Ideazz. Meaning of iftitah in English - Rekhta Dictionary Taught by the Twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi (as),