Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The aforementioned hadith is worthy of reflection. Imam Sufyan narrated it as follows: Sayyiduna Wa’il bin Hujr radi Allahu anhu says: I heard the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam; when he recited {وَلَا الضَّالِّیْنَ}, he said “Ameen” and prolonged his voice. (Musnad Ahmad: 18842, Abu Dawud: 932, Tirmidhi: 248, Dar Qutni: 1/333, Darimi: 1247, Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/425) However, when Imam Shu’bah narrated it, his wording was: When the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam recited {وَلَا الضَّالِّیْنَ}, he said “Ameen” and lowered his voice. (The reference has already passed above.) This is not a problematic situation, because when there is a difference between Imam Sufyan and Imam Shu’bah, the statement of Imam Sufyan is given preference. The noble Imams have preferred this principle. Imam Bukhari, in his Tarikh, has pointed out this error of Imam Shu’bah, and then Imam Tirmidhi has transmitted it from him in his Jami’ and al-‘Ilal al-Kabir.

The second point is that ‘Ala bin Salih has followed Imam Sufyan’s narration regarding saying “Ameen” aloud; this corroboration is mentioned in Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/299, Abu Dawud: 933, Tirmidhi: 249. (See: 18842, and its explanation.)

Summary: From the narration of Sayyiduna Wa’il bin Hujr radi Allahu anhu, it is established that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would say “Ameen” aloud. Further proofs for saying “Ameen” aloud are as follows:

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu says: Whenever the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam finished the recitation of Umm al-Qur’an (Surah al-Fatihah), he would raise his voice and say: ((Ameen.)) … When the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would finish the recitation of Umm al-Qur’an (Surah al-Fatihah), he would say “Ameen” in a raised voice. (Ibn Hibban: 462, Dar Qutni: 127, Hakim: 1/223, Bayhaqi: 2/58, Sahihah: 464)

Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah writes: From this hadith, it is understood that it is legislated for the Imam to say “Ameen” aloud. This is the position of Imam Shafi’i, Imam Ahmad, Imam Ishaq, and others; however, Imam Abu Hanifah and his followers do not hold this view. The simple fact is that these people have no evidence except for those generalities which indicate that the basic rule in dhikr is to keep the voice low. But such general proofs cannot be beneficial in the face of the specific and clear narrations of this chapter. In any case, this reality will be understood by those scholars whom Allah Ta’ala has purified from intellectual rigidity and religious bigotry. (Sahihah: 464)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas radi Allahu anhu that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((The Jews have not envied you for anything as much as they have envied you for “Ameen”, so say “Ameen” abundantly.)) … The Jews are not as spiteful towards you for anything as much as they are for “Ameen”, so say “Ameen” frequently. (Ibn Majah, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah)

Imam Abu Hanifah’s teacher, Imam ‘Ata bin Abi Rabah, says: I saw two hundred (200) Companions; when the Imam would say {وَلَا الضَّالِّیْنَ} in the House of Allah (the Ka’bah), all would say “Ameen” aloud. (Bayhaqi)

Nu’aym Mujmir says: Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu led us in prayer according to the way of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, then Nu’aym, while describing this method, says that he said “Ameen” and those who were praying behind him also said “Ameen”. (Nasa’i)

It is narrated from Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu, he states that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((When the Imam recites: {غَیْرِ الْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَیْھِمْ وَلاالضَّالِیْنَ}, and the Imam says “Ameen”, then you should say “Ameen”, for the angels also say “Ameen” to the Imam’s supplication, and whoever’s “Ameen” coincides with the “Ameen” of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven.)) … When the Imam recites {غَیْرِ الْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَیْھِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّیْنَ} and says “Ameen”, then you should say “Ameen”, for the angels also say “Ameen” to his supplication, and whoever’s “Ameen” coincides with the “Ameen” of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven. (Abu Ya’la: 4/1408, Sahihah: 2534)

Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah said: It is also correct to deduce from this hadith that the followers (muqtadis) should say “Ameen” aloud. In another book, I have expressed my inclination towards this deduction, because this deduction is in accordance with the athar of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubayr radi Allahu anhu and the marfu’ hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu. (Sahihah: 2534)

Which athar of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubayr radi Allahu anhu is intended? Regarding this, Imam al-Albani rahimahullah himself said: Then I saw that Imam Bukhari, with a decisive expression, mentioned the suspended athar of Sayyiduna Ibn Zubayr radi Allahu anhu. Commenting on this, Hafiz Ibn Hajar said (Fath al-Bari: 2/208): ‘Abd al-Razzaq narrated this athar with a connected chain from Ibn Jurayj from ‘Ata. Ibn Jurayj asked ‘Ata: Did Abdullah bin Zubayr say “Ameen” after reciting Surah al-Fatihah? He said: Yes, and his followers also said “Ameen”, until the mosque would resound. Then he said: “Ameen” is a supplication. I (al-Albani) say: This narration is in Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq (2640), and Imam Ibn Hazm has also mentioned it with the same chain in (al-Muhalla: 3/364). Since Ibn Jurayj clarified that he took this narration directly from ‘Ata, the risk of his tadlis is eliminated, and the athar of Ibn Zubayr is established.

A similar athar is also narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu. Abu Rafi’ says: Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu was the mu’adhdhin of Marwan bin Hakam. He had stipulated with Marwan that he could not say {وَلَاالضَّآلِیْن} until he was sure of his (Abu Hurairah’s) presence. So when Marwan would say {وَلَا الضَّاْلِیْن}, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu would say “Ameen” and prolong his voice, and he would say: When the “Ameen” of the people of the earth coincides with the “Ameen” of the inhabitants of the heavens, they are forgiven. (Bayhaqi: 2/59) Its chain is authentic.

It is thus authentically established from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah and Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubayr radi Allahu anhuma that they would say “Ameen” aloud. In contrast, there is no established athar from any Companion to the contrary, so the heart is satisfied with the view that “Ameen” should be said aloud. And Allah knows best. (Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Da’ifah: 952)