Research-Based Response to Objections on the Hadith in Sahih Muslim Regarding Bismillah Being Recited Aloud
Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah, Volume 3 — Principles, Takhrij of Narrations, and Their Rulings, Page 183
❖ Details of the Question
A question was sent to the respected Shaykh regarding certain scholars who raise objections concerning the authenticity of a narration found in Sahih Muslim. The narration is from Anas رضي الله عنه, stating:
“I prayed behind the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, Umar رضي الله عنه, and Uthman رضي الله عنه, and all of them would begin the prayer with ‘Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalameen’.”
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Nawawi, Vol 1, p. 172)
Shaykh Abu Muhammad Badi’ al-Din Shah al-Rashidi رحمه الله, the Hadith scholar of Sindh, commented on this narration in his Tafsir Badee’ al-Tafasir, Volume 1, Page 134. According to him:
◈ The chain of this narration is: Al-Awza’i from Qatadah, who wrote to him informing him from Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه.
◈ Qatadah رحمه الله was congenitally blind (Tahdhib: 8/351), so he would not have written the narration himself but would have had it written by a scribe.
◈ The name of the scribe is unknown and therefore considered majhool (anonymous).
◈ Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله also mentioned this in Al-Nukat, page 294 (Published 2/755–756).
◈ Qatadah رحمه الله was also a mudallis, and there is no explicit mention of hearing (samaa’) in this narration — a second reason for declaring it weak.
Shah Sahib رحمه الله addressed this because he was a proponent and practitioner of reciting Bismillah aloud, while this narration hints at silent recitation.
Moreover, on the same page (134), Shah Sahib رحمه الله remarked that if this narration is accepted, it implies:
“Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem” was not recited at all — neither silently nor aloud.
(The next narration in Sahih Muslim also clarifies that no one heard it being recited.)
Based on this, some scholars from Sindh have declared this narration weak and have been spreading this view via mobile messages. When told about the consensus (ijma’) regarding Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, they denied such a consensus.
(Waqeel Wali Qazi, Hyderabad Sindh)
❖ The Response
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd:
✔ Takhrij (Referencing) of the Hadith
Imam ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn ʿUmar al-Awzaʿi رحمه الله narrates:
“Imam Qatadah رحمه الله wrote to me stating that Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه said:
I prayed behind the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman رضي الله عنهم; they began their recitation with ‘Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalameen’, and did not recite Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem either at the beginning or at the end.”
(Sahih Muslim: 52/399, Darussalam numbering: 892; Musnad Ahmad: 223, H13337)
❖ Objections by Shah Sahib رحمه الله
➊ The scribe is unknown
➋ Qatadah رحمه الله was a Mudallis, and there is no explicit statement of hearing (samaa’)
✔ Response to the First Objection: The Scribe is Unknown
➊ This narration has authentic supporting narrations (shawahid and mutaba’at); hence, the anonymity of the scribe does not render the narration unacceptable.
➋ It is standard practice globally for blind individuals to dictate their writings. Unless there is concrete evidence discrediting the scribe, trust is placed in the writing.
➌ This is a mukatabah (written correspondence) narration — and in Usul al-Hadith, narrating via correspondence is permissible.
✔ Response to the Second Objection: Tadlis and Lack of Samaa’
➊ In Musnad Ahmad, this same narration includes a clear statement of hearing:
“Kataba ilayya Qatadah haddathani Anas ibn Malik”
(Musnad Ahmad, Vol 3, p. 223–224)
➋ In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, all narrations with mudallis narrators using “ʿan” are considered to have explicit hearing or are supported by corroborating chains.
❖ Supporting Chains and Witnesses for the Hadith
1. Sahih Muslim Narration:
“I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman رضي الله عنهم, and I did not hear any of them recite Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem.”
(Sahih Muslim: 399, Darussalam: 890; Musnad Ahmad 3/117, H12810; Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 494; Sahih Abi Awanah: 2/122, H1311)
Objection on Qatadah being Mudallis — Three Responses:
➊ Imam Shuʿbah رحمه الله confirmed hearing from Qatadah:
“I am sufficient for you against the tadlis of A’mash, Ishaq, and Qatadah.”
(Juz Mas’alah al-Tasmiyyah li Ibn Zaher, p. 47 – Authentic chain)
“I used to observe Qatadah’s face — if he said ‘I heard’, I recorded it; otherwise, I left it.”
(Taqdimat al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil, p.169; Tahqiq Maqalat 1/261)
➋ The narration itself includes an explicit mention of hearing.
➌ All Muʿanʿan narrations in Sahihayn are accepted as authentic.
2. Narration from Imam Shuʿbah and Shayban:
“I prayed behind the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman رضي الله عنهم. I did not hear any of them reciting Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem aloud.”
(Musnad Ali ibn al-Ja’d: 922; Tirmidhi 1/314, H1186)
Authentic chain. Shayban ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman is trustworthy and a compiler of Hadith.
Various Chains from Imam Shuʿbah through These Narrators:
◈ Muhammad ibn Jaʿfar (Sahih Muslim)
◈ Ali ibn al-Jaʿd
◈ Waki’ ibn al-Jarrah (Musnad Ahmad 3/179, H1284)
◈ Hajjaj ibn Muhammad (Musnad Ahmad 3/177)
◈ Ubaydullah ibn Musa (Ibn Jarood: 183; Dar Qutni 1/315)
◈ Badal ibn al-Muhabbar (Al-Sunan al-Kubra 2/51)
◈ Abu Dawood al-Tayalisi (Sahih Muslim, Darussalam: 891)
◈ Uqbah ibn Khalid (Al-Nasa’i: 908)
◈ Aswad ibn ‘Amir (Dar Qutni 1/315, H1189)
◈ Zayd ibn al-Habbab (Dar Qutni 1/315, H1190)
❖ Other Narrations Serving as Supporting Evidence
➊ Abu Na’amah al-Hanafi from Anas
(Musnad Ahmad 3/216, H1325; Al-Sunan al-Kubra 2/52)
Weak: Sufyan al-Thawri is a mudallis
➋ Mansur ibn Zadhan from Anas
(Al-Nasa’i 2/134, H907)
Disconnected chain
➌ Hasan al-Basri from Anas
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 497)
Weak: Suwayd ibn Abd al-Aziz is weak and Hasan al-Basri is mudallis
➍ Thabit from Anas
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 497)
Weak: Al-A’mash is mudallis
✅ Summary of Research
◈ The hadith through the chain of Imam Shuʿbah is authentic.
◈ This hadith indicates that reciting Bismillah aloud at the beginning of Surah al-Fatiha is not necessary — it is permissible to recite it silently.
◈ According to other evidences, reciting it aloud on some occasions is also permissible.
(See: Hadiyyah al-Muslimeen, p. 37–38, H13)
❖ Objection on the Content: Does the Hadith Indicate Bismillah Was Not Recited At All?
This understanding is incorrect for two reasons:
➊ The hadith explicitly states:
“فلم أسمع أحدًا منهم يَجْهَرُ (بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ)”
(Clause no. 2)
This refers only to the absence of loud recitation, not absence of recitation altogether.
➋ Understanding of the Muhaddithin:
◈ Hafiz al-Bayhaqi رحمه الله established a chapter titled:
“Chapter: Those Who Said It Should Not Be Recited Aloud”
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra 2/50)
◈ Imam Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله clarified:
“That they used to recite ﴿بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ﴾ silently in the prayer.”
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Vol 1, p. 249, before Hadith 495)
✅ Conclusion
◈ Our belief, faith, and methodology is that all Marfu’, Musnad, and Mutasil ahadith in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim are authentic.
◈ None of them is weak.
◈ The opinion of some scholars to the contrary is unfounded and unacceptable.
وما علینا إلا البلاغ
(27 Shaʿbān 1433 AH / 18 July 2012 CE)
ھذا ما عندی واللہ أعلم بالصواب
