The Hadith is in Tirmidhi on the authority of Wael b Hujr. In one hadith he states "madda biha sawtahu" Nabi SAW made loud aameen. The Shafi'es & Hanbalis chose this. The other hadith in Tirmidhi states "khafadha biha sawtahu" Nabi SAW said aameen softly. The Hanafis & Malikis chose this hadith.
Recitation of Ameen Loudly Behind Imam
When we perform our Salaah behind the Imam and he recitesWaladdaalleen 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 Quran 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 Quran 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 Quran 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 Quran and Sunnah that Amin should be said quietly behind the Imam.
Proof from the Quran 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 dua
There is proof from the Quran that Amin is a dua. For example, Allah Taala says in the Quran 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 dua by saying: "I except both of your duas" (Surah Yunus: 89)
The Prophet Musa (May Allah be pleased with Him) supplicated to Allah whereas Haroon only said Amin. But Allah attributed the dua to both of them.This proves that Amin is a dua.(Tafsir Ibn Kathir. Under Surah Fatihah)Qadhi Shawkani and Imam Qurtubi also write, in the interpretation of Surah Fatihah, that Amin is a dua.(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 Quran and Sunnah show that dua should be recited quietly.
Proof from the Quran and Sunnah that dua should be recited quietly
Allah Taala says in the Quran:Invoke your lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors. (Surah al-araf: 55)
It is proved from the above verse that all should supplicate to Allah with humility and secrecy.
Allah says in the Quran:And remembering your lord by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear without loudness in words.(Surah al-araf: 205)
Qadhi Shawkaani writes:In the above verse the word remember means dua and dua should be said secretly.(Fath ul qadeer. Under verse 205 Surah al-araf)
Allah Taala says in the Quran: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 dua secretly
Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal writes:The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that Allah Taala 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 Quran and Sunnah that dua should be supplicated to Allah quietly and as Amin is also a dua so it should be said quietly also. That is the reason why all duas are read silently. For example Thanaa, Takbeer, Taawwudh, Tasbeeh, Tashahhud, salutation and the final sittings dua 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 Waladdaalleenthen you must say Amin because the Angels also say Amin and whosoevers Amin coincides with that of an Angel, their past sins will be forgiven.(Bukhai and Muslim Chapter on Tameen)
There are two ways in which Amin can be similar to the angels Amin:1) To say Amin with the Imam2) 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 Samiallaahu liman Hamidah you should say Rabbanaa lakal Hamd. Whoevers Tahmeed becomes similar to the Angels, their past sins would be forgiven.(Muslim Bab Tameen)
The Hadith of Amin and Tahmeed are written under the same chapter.Both of these Hadith mention that whosoevers 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 Nasaaee 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. Whosoevers Amin coincides with the Angels, his past sins would be forgiven.(Nasaaee, 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 Imams Amin, so no one should hear the followers 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 Tameen)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 Tameen)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 Tameen)
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 Nasaaee 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 Mueen praised him.(Meezan ul Itidaal, Tahdheeeb-ut-tahdheeb, biography of Muhammad bin Kathir)
The other narrator of these narrations isMuhammad 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 Itidaal, 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 its not possible that he would have heard any Hadith from his Father. Imam Ibn Saad said that ibn Wyle has only narrated a few Hadith.(Tahdheeb ut-tahdheeb, biography of Abdul Jabbar bin Wyle)
Abdul Jabbaars 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 Itidaal, biography of Is-haaq bin Ibraaheem uz Zubaidi)
Another narrator of these narrations is calledAbdullah 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 Ismail 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 Moeen said that he combined the text from one Hadith into another.(Meezaan ul Itidaal, tahdheeb ut-tahdheeb, biography of Ismail 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 Tameen)
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 Qiraat)
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 EvidenceImam Bukhari writes:Ata bin Rubah said that Amin is a dua. Abd Allah and the people who were behind him said Amin loudly and this sound echoed throughout the masjid.(Bukhari. Chapter on tameen)
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?
Taleeq (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 Muallaq (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 companions 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 Muallaq by Hafidh Asqalani)
According to the majority of scholars chainless narrations are not acceptable. Ibn Zubairs above narration is a chain-less narration and so it cannot be accepted as evidence. Secondly, it is not clear from Ibn Zubairs narration if the followers said Amin after Waladdaalleen or during the dua 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 doesnt 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 EvidenceImam Ibn Majah wries:Bishar bin Rafir said that Abu Hurairahs 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 Tameen)
Examination of the narratorsThe first narrator of this narration is Abu Abdullah.Imam Dhahabi writes:He is Abu Hurairahs cousin, but is unknown. Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim did not take this narration from him.(Meezaan ul Itidaal, 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 Moeen 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 Itidaal, 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 HadithAbu 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 neednt 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 tameen, 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.