Recitation of Ameen Loudly Behind Imam

When we perform our Salaah behind the Imam and he
recites"Waladdaalleen" loudly we say Amin quietly. This is because
Amin is a dua and it should always be read quietly. Some people say
thatwhen performing Salaah behind the Imam you should say Amin loudly
with rhythm.
We argue that there is no such Hadith, which mentions that, the
Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) ordered this action
and He (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) never encouraged
anyone to do this.
The people who follow this action put forward one Hadith, which says
that the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said Amin
loudly in the Salaah.
We claim that it is true by saying that the Prophet (May Allah bless
him and grant him peace) said Amin loudly a few times. The Prophet
used to carry out actions only to educate people, for example, in
Salaah-ul-Zuhr part of the Qur'an was recited loudly.
Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim write:
When the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) was
performing his Zuhr and Asr prayers, he recited part of the Qur'an
loudly, which we could hear. (Bukhari and Muslim, chapter on Qiraat,
Zuhr and Asr)
After reading this Hadith no one in the whole Ummah says that the Imam
should recite any part of the Qur'an loudly in the Zuhr and Asr
Salaah. This is because everyone knows that the Prophet (May Allah
bless him and grant him peace) only did this to educate the people. In
the same way, the Hadith that mentions that the Prophet (May Allah
bless him and grant him peace) said Amin loudly does not mean that it
is Sunnah to say Amin loudly. There is also proof from the Qur'an and
Sunnah that Amin should be said quietly behind the Imam.
Proof from the Qur'an to say Amin quietly behind the Imam
Hafidh Ibn Kathir writes:
When someone finishes reciting surat-ul-Fatiha, it is preferable to say Amin.
Amin means "Oh Allah, accept our du'a"
There is proof from the Qur'an that Amin is a du'a. For example, Allah
Ta'ala says in the Qur'an that Prophet Musa (May Allah be pleased with
Him) prayed to Allah by saying:
"Oh Allah, destroy the wealth of Pharaoh" (Surah Yunus: Verse 87)
The Prophet Musa' brother Haroon (May Allah be pleased with Him) was
standing beside him and said Amin. Allah accepted their du'a by
saying:
"I except both of your du'as" (Surah Yunus: 89)
The Prophet Musa (May Allah be pleased with Him) supplicated to Allah
whereas Haroon only said Amin. But Allah attributed the du'a to both
of them.
This proves that Amin is a du'a.(Tafsir Ibn Kathir. Under Surah Fatihah)
Qadhi Shawkani and Imam Qurtubi also write, in the interpretation of
Surah Fatihah, that Amin is a du'a.
(Qurtabi and Fathul Qadeer under surah Fatiha)
Now that it has been proved that Amin is a dua, we should supplicate
quietly to Allah. Proof from the Qur'an and Sunnah show that du'a
should be recited quietly.
Proof from the Qur'an and Sunnah that du'a should be recited quietly
Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'an:
"Invoke your lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the
aggressors." (Surah al-a'raf: 55)
It is proved from the above verse that all should supplicate to Allah
with humility and secrecy.
Allah says in the Qur'an:
"And remembering your lord by your tongue and within yourself, humbly
and with fear without loudness in words."
(Surah al-a'raf: 205)
Qadhi Shawkaani writes:
In the above verse the word "remember" means du'a and du'a should be
said secretly.
(Fath ul qadeer. Under verse 205 Surah al-a'raf)
Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'an:
"This is a mention of mercy of your Lord to his slave Zakariyya. When
he called out his Lord (Allah) – a call in secret.
(Surah Maryam: 2-3)
Proof from Hadith for doing du'a secretly
Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal writes:
The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that Allah
Ta'ala is pleased with those who remember him secretly.
(Musnad Ahmad, narration of Saad bin Abi Waqqaas, volume 1 p.172)
It is proven from the Qur'an and Sunnah that du'a should be
supplicated to Allah quietly and as Amin is also a du'a so it should
be said quietly also. That is the reason why all du'as are read
silently. For example Thanaa, Takbeer, Ta'awwudh, Tasbeeh, Tashahhud,
salutation and the final sitting's du'a are all read silently, so Amin
should also be included in the above. The reason why the Imam says the
Takbeer loudly is only to inform his followers that he is moving from
one position to another.
Proof from Hadith to say Amin quietly
Imam Muslim and Imam Bukhari write:
The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that when
the Imam says "Waladdaalleen"then you must say Amin because the Angels
also say Amin and whosoever's Amin coincides with that of an Angel,
their past sins will be forgiven.
(Bukhai and Muslim Chapter on Ta'meen)
There are two ways in which Amin can be similar to the angels' Amin:
1) To say Amin with the Imam
2) To say Amin silently because the angels say Amin with the Imam and
also silently.
If someone proclaims Amin loudly it would not be similar to the
Angels' as no one hears the Angels.
Imam Muslim writes:
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant
him peace) said that when the Imam says "Sami'allaahu liman Hamidah"
you should say "Rabbanaa lakal Hamd". Whoever's Tahmeed becomes
similar to the Angels', their past sins would be forgiven.(Muslim Bab
Ta'meen)
The Hadith of Amin and Tahmeed are written under the same chapter.
Both of these Hadith mention that whosoever's Amin or Tahmeed
coincides with that of the Angels' their past sins will be forgiven.
It is clear now that Amin should be said as "Rabbanaa lakal hamd" i.e.
silently and individually, without rhythm.
Imam Nasaa'ee writes:
The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that when
the Imam says "Waladdaalleen", you should say "Amin". This is because
the angels and the Imam also say Amin. Whosoever's Amin coincides with
the Angels', his past sins would be forgiven.(Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah,
Daarimi, chapter Tahmeed, musnad Ahmad narration of Abu Hurairah)
This Hadith proves that Amin should be said as the Imam says his Amin.
No one hears the Imam's Amin, so no one should hear the follower's
Amin. The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) has also
ordered us to follow the Imam, so we should say Amin quietly.
One doubt
Some people claim that the Imam should say Amin loudly.
Imam Dar Qutni writes:
Wyle said that the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace)
led the Salaah and read Amin loudly. (Tirmidhi and Dar Qutni, chapter
Ta'meen)
This Hadith provides evidence that Amin should be said loudly. There
is also another Hadith which Imam Dar Qutni wrote:
It is reported by Abu Hurairah that The Prophet (May Allah bless him
and grant him peace) led the Salaah and said Amin loudly. (Dar Qutni,
chapter Ta'meen)
There is also a third Hadith which is reported by Umm Haseen:
She said that the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace)
read the Salaah and said Amin loudly.(Zalee, Chapter on Ta'meen)
All the above narrations prove that the Imam should say Amin loudly
and the followers should also say Amin loudly.
We clear this doubt by saying
· That Bukhari or Muslim did not write the above narrations.
· Secondly, all these narrations prove that the Imam says Amin loudly sometimes.
· Thirdly, the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said
Amin loudly sometimes.
· Fourthly, the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said
Amin loudly so that his followers would know that after
"Waladdaalleen", "Amin" should be said.
· Fifthly, these narrations cannot be used as evidence because they
are not authentic.
Examining the Narrators
The first narrator was called Muhammad bin Kathir.
Imam Dhahabi and Hafidh Asqalani write:
Imam Ahmad said that Muhammad bin Kathir is weak. Imam Nasaa'ee said
that he is not reliable in the science of Hadith. Abdullah bin Ahmad
said that he narrates false narrations of Hadith, which is why the
scholars of Hadith reject his narrations and say that Muhammad bin
Kathir is weak. Imam Bukhari, Imam Abu Dawood, Imam Salih, and Hafidh
Jazrah say that he made many mistakes in his narrations, all his
narrations are weak and that his narrations are difficult to
understand. Imam Ibn Adhi mentions his unknown narrations in his book
Kamil. Imam Ibn Habbaan said Muhammad bin Kathir is authentic but made
many mistakes. Imam Laith and Ibn Mu'een praised him.
(Meezan ul I'tidaal, Tahdheeeb-ut-tahdheeb, biography of Muhammad bin Kathir)
The other narrator of these narrations is Muhammad bin Khalid.
Imam Dhahabi and Hafidh Asqalani write:
Muhammad is a truthful man but is unknown. Imam Ibn Abi Khatim said
that I asked my Father about Muhammad but he replied that he was
unaware of his existence.
(Meezaan ul I'tidaal, biography of Muhammad bin Khalid)
Another narrator of these narrations is called Abdul Jabbar bin Wyle.
Hafidh Asqalani writes:
Imam Bukhari, Imam Tirmidhi and Imam ibn Habbaan said that bin Wyle
had never heard any Hadith from his Father. The other scholars of
Hadith say that he was born after his Father's death that is why it's
not possible that he would have heard any Hadith from his Father. Imam
Ibn Sa'ad said that ibn Wyle has only narrated a few Hadith.(Tahdheeb
ut-tahdheeb, biography of Abdul Jabbar bin Wyle)
Abdul Jabbaar's narrations cannot be used as evidence because he said
that he narrated directly from his Father whereas his Father had died
before his birth.
Is-haaq bin Ibrahim az Zubedi was another narrator of these narrations
Imam Dhahabi writes:
Imam Dawood and Imam Nasaaee said that he had no knowledge of Hadith
and he was not authentic. Imam Atee said that he was a liar.(Meezaan
ul I'tidaal, biography of Is-haaq bin Ibraaheem uz Zubaidi)
Another narrator of these narrations is called Abdullah bin Salim.
Imam Dhahabi writes:
He was a NAasbee (from a misled sect), Abdullah bin Salim contempted
Hadrat Ali (Radiall hu anhu) and he used to say that Hadrat Ali
(Radiall hu anhu) helped those people who killed Hadrat Abu Bakr
(Radiall hu anhu) and Hadrat Umar (Radiall hu anhu).
(Meezaan ul 'itidaal, biography of Abdullah bin Salim)
Another narrator of these narrations is Isma'il bin Muslim Makkee.
Imam Dhahabi and Hafidh Asqalani write:
Imam Ahmad, Imam Abu Zurah, Imam Nasaaee, Imam Ali, and Imam Bukhari
say that he is weak and that he narrates unknown Hadith. This is why
the scholars of Hadith began to avoid his narrations. Imam ibn Mo'een
said that he combined the text from one Hadith into another.
(Meezaan ul I'tidaal, tahdheeb ut-tahdheeb, biography of Isma'il bin
Muslim Makkee)
How can the above narrations be used as evidence when the narrators of
these Ahadith have been highly criticized by the scholars of Hadith.
The Ahadith that have been narrated by these narrators cannot be
authentic; they can only prove that "Amin" is to be said loudly by the
Imam, not that the followers say Amin loudly together with the Imam.
If this was the case, the narrators of these Ahadith who are the
companions of the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace)
should have said "When the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him
peace) said Amin loudly, we also said Amin loudly. But they only
reported that the Prophet said Amin loudly.
It is established that the Imam says Amin loudly sometimes. The way of
the companions was to follow this and to listen to the Amin quietly,
not to read Amin loudly themselves. Secondly, there are other Ahadith
that mention that the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him
peace) used to say Amin silently.
Imam Ibn Abi Shaibah writes:
Wyle reported that he performed Salaah behind the Prophet (May Allah
bless him and grant him peace) and he said Amin silently.
(Musannaf ibn Abee Shaiba. Chapter Ta'meen)
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal writes:
Wyle reported that the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him
peace) led the Salaah and said Amin silently.
(Musnad Ahmad bin Hambal, narrations of Wyle bin Hajjar)
Both of the above narrations prove that when the Prophet (May Allah
bless him and grant him peace) led the Salaah, he said Amin silently.
Imam Abu Dawood writes:
When the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) led the
Salaah, after saying "Waladdaalleen", he became silent.
(Abu Dawood. Chapter Al Qiraa't)
The above narration proves that when the Prophet (May Allah bless him
and grant him peace) became silent, it was to say Amin silently. If
the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) was to say Amin
loudly then, there was no point in Him remaining silent after saying
"Waladdaalleen".
Let us now examine the evidence of those people who say Amin loudly
behind the Imam.
First Evidence
Imam Bukhari writes:
Ata bin Rubah said that "Amin" is a du'a. Abd Allah and the people who
were behind him said Amin loudly and this sound echoed throughout the
masjid.
(Bukhari. Chapter on ta'meen)
They conclude from this Hadith that Amin should be said loudly so that
the sound echoes throughout the masjid. We argue that although this
narration is written in Bukhari, but he did not write the chain of
this narration. Imam Bukhari was born at the very end of the 2nd
century after Hijrah and Abdullah bin Zubair died in the 73rd year of
Hijrah. This means that Imam Bukhari was born 125 years after the
death of Abdullah bin Zubair. How could Bukhari know that the masjid
echoed with the sound of Amin, at the time of Abdullah bin Zubair?
Ta'leeq (To Suspend)
When a scholar of Hadith writes a Hadith without mentioning the chain
between himself and the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him
peace), or he mentions a little part of the chain, a Hadith such as
this is called Hadith Mu'allaq (suspended Hadith). This is because
this type of Hadith is chain-less. The scholars of Hadith call it a
suspended Hadith.
Hafidh Asqalani writes:
When a scholar of Hadith writes a chainless Hadith directly from the
Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) or from a companion,
or a student of a companion, this type of narration is not accepted
because he never met the companion of the Prophet (May Allah bless him
and grant him peace) or the companion's student. It is not known
whether the narrators, which he does not mention, are authentic or
weak. The majority of scholars of Hadith agree that if a scholar, who
writes a chainless Hadith, claims that the narrators are authentic,
his claim will not be accepted until he mentions their names. Both
Muslim and Bukhari contain some chain-less Hadith which cannot be
accepted.
(Sharh un nukhbah and muqaddamah Fath ul Baari. Chapter on Hadith
Mu'allaq by Hafidh Asqalani)
According to the majority of scholars chainless narrations are not
acceptable. Ibn Zubair's above narration is a chain-less narration and
so it cannot be accepted as evidence. Secondly, it is not clear from
Ibn Zubair's narration if the followers said "Amin" after
"Waladdaalleen" or during the du'a in the Fajr Salaah. It is also not
clear if the followers in the Salaah said Amin in all their Salaah or
just once. Thirdly, it doesn't say that the Prophet ordered to say
Amin. The above mentioned Hadith cannot be used to prove that Amin
should be said behind the Imam.
Second Evidence
Imam Ibn Majah wries:
Bishar bin Rafir said that Abu Hurairah's cousin Abu Abdullah told me
that he heard Abu Hurairah saying that the people have stopped saying
Amin although the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace)
used to say Amin after Waladdaalleen. The people in the first row
offering Salaah could hear him. The sound echoed throughout the
masjid.
(Ibn Maajah, Chapter Ta'meen)
Examination of the narrators
The first narrator of this narration is Abu Abdullah.
Imam Dhahabi writes:
He is Abu Hurairah's cousin, but is unknown. Imam Bukhari and Imam
Muslim did not take this narration from him.
(Meezaan ul I'tidaal, biography of Abu Abdullah)
The second narrator is Bishar bin Rafir.
Imam Dhahabi and Hafidh Asqalani write:
Imam Bukhari said that no one could verify his narration. Imam Ahmad
said that his narrations are weak and he has no knowledge of Hadith.
Imam Yahya bin Mo'een said that his narrations are unknown. Imam
Nisaaee said that he is not strong in the knowledge of Hadith. Imam
Ibn Habbaan said that he narrates false Ahadith. Imam Abu Khatim and
Imam Tirmidhi say that he is weak and that he narrates unknown
Hadiths. This is the reason why his narrated Ahadiths are weak. Imam
ibn Abdul Barr said that all the scholars of Hadith agree that all his
narrations should be thrown away. The scholars of Hadith did not
accept his narrations. Imam Bukhari and Muslim did not take any
narrations from him. There were the only two or three people who
praised him.
(Meezaan ul I'tidaal, tahdheeb ut tahdheeb, biography of Bishar bin
Rafir il Harsee)
The above statements show that the narrators of these narrations have
been highly criticized by the scholars of Hadith.
The Text of Hadith
Abu Hurairah said that the people had stopped saying Amin.
Abu Hurairah was a famous companion of the Prophet (May Allah bless
him and grant him peace) and he died in 59 AH. He complained that the
people had stopped saying Amin. In his time, a large number of the
companions were alive, if it was a sunnah to say Amin loudly behind
the Imam, then the companions would have done so and Abu Hurairah
needn't have complained.
Abu Hurairah saw this in the time of the Kulafa but did not mention
that they, or their followers used to say Amin loudly; it has been
proven that the khulafa and their followers did not practice this.
Abu hurairah continued to say that when the Prophet (May Allah bless
him and grant him peace) used to say Amin, the people in the first row
heard it and the sound echoed throughout the masjid.
This statement proves that the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant
him peace) used to say Amin sometimes to teach the people, but the
people behind him did not say Amin loudly and that
The following sentence "The sound echoed throughout the masjid"
requires attention because the sound can only echo if the place is
made of cement and also has a dome. The roof of the masjid, at the
time of the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), was
made from palm-tree branches and no cement was used. This means that
it is not possible for the sound to have echoed throughout the masjid.
The interesting thing is that Imam Dawood also wrote this narration in
his chapter on ta'meen, but did not mention the above words (i.e. "The
sound echoed throughout the masjid").
The above narration is not authentic and the text does not prove that
Amin should be said loudly behind the Imam. This is because in the
whole narration there is no proof that the companions of the Prophet
(May Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to say Amin loudly
behind the Imam.