A woman recites Takbeerat Al-Ihraam in the obligatory prayer more than once, perhaps twice or thrice; is her prayer valid? Thank you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

If this woman repeats Takbeerat Al-Ihraam (i.e. the initial 'Allaahu Akbar') deliberately, then she has committed a religious innovation and she should be advised and informed that she had committed a violation of a Sharee‘ah rule; however, her prayer is valid.

Shaykhul-Islam ibn Taymiyyah said in Al-Fatawaa Al-Kubra, "I was asked about a Shafi‘i Imaam who proclaims the Takbeerat Al-Ihraam several times and the Ma'mumeen (i.e. ones being led in the prayer) keep silent." He replied, "All praise is due to Allaah The Exalted. Repeating the Takbeerat Al-Ihraam out loud or uttering the intention verbally are forbidden according to the Shaafi‘i school of Fiqh and the rest of the scholars of Islam. Whoever does so has committed a wrongdoing and, if he thinks that such an act is in accordance with the Sharee‘ah, he has violated the scholarly consensus and should be forbidden from doing so. If such an Imaam is discharged from his responsibilities (i.e. leading the prayers) upon refusing to stop doing such an act, it will be justified.”

On the other hand, if such a practice is a result of mere devilish whisperings and illusions, then there is no blame on her since it happens unintentionally and is beyond her control. However, she should be advised not to yield or pay attention to such whisperings and illusions and to repeat Isti‘aathah (i.e. seeking refuge in Allaah The Almighty from the evil plans of the accursed Satan) frequently.