❀ Fiqhi Difference Regarding Saying Āmīn Aloud by the Followers (Muqtadī) ❀
(Excerpt from Muḥammad Muẓaffar al-Shīrāzī’s book: Namāz mein Ūnchī Āwāz se Āmīn Kahnā, translated by Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Razzāq Azhar)
◈ Ḥanafī Madhhab
- The Ḥanafīs hold that the follower (muqtadī) says Āmīn quietly, not aloud.
- References: Tabyīn al-Ḥaqāʼiq 1/113, Sharḥ Fatḥ al-Qadīr 1/295, al-Hidāyah maʿa Fatḥ al-Qadīr 1/295, al-Baḥr al-Rāʼiq 1/331, Radd al-Muḥtār 1/492, al-Ikhtiyār 1/64.
Their Proofs:
They cite a report:
“Arbaʿ yukhfīhinna al-imām: al-taʿawwudh, al-tasmiyah, Āmīn, wa’l-taḥmīd.”
“There are four things which the Imām says quietly: Taʿawwudh, Bismillah, Āmīn, and al-ḥamdu lillāh.”
They also rely on the opinion attributed to ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه that Āmīn should be recited quietly since it is a duʿāʼ, and duʿāʼ is preferred to be made softly.
Critique:
- This attribution is in fact from Ibrāhīm al-Nakhaʿī, not Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه.
- The narration “When the Imām says Āmīn, then say Āmīn” (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah 1/287) proves the Imām says it aloud; otherwise the followers would not know when to join.
- Therefore, saying Āmīn aloud aligns better with the hadith.
◈ Mālikī Madhhab
- The Mālikīs also state that the follower should say Āmīn quietly.
- Reference: Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm al-Mālikī, Tanwīr al-Maqālah 4/37.
Their Proofs:
They reason that since Āmīn is duʿāʼ, and duʿāʼ is better made silently, therefore Āmīn should be said softly.
Critique:
- The ending of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah (ihdina ṣ-ṣirāṭ al-mustaqīm… ghayri’l-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa la’ḍ-ḍāllīn) is itself a duʿāʼ, yet it is recited aloud in loud prayers.
- Āmīn is not a duʿāʼ in itself, but a seal upon the duʿāʼ, as explained by Abū Zuhayr al-Numayrī رضي الله عنه: “Āmīn is like the seal placed upon a letter.” (Abū Dāwūd).
◈ Shāfiʿī Madhhab
- The Shāfiʿīs hold that the follower should say Āmīn aloud in loud prayers.
- References: al-Nawawī al-Majmūʿ 3/334, Mughnī al-Muḥtāj 1/161, Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn 1/247, Fatḥ al-Bārī 4/266, Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2/130.
Proofs:
- Ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
“When the Imām says ghayri’l-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa la’ḍ-ḍāllīn, then say Āmīn, for the one whose saying coincides with the angels will have his past sins forgiven.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
- The word qulū (say) is unrestricted, but when placed against the Imām’s qāl (he said), it implies audibility, since the Imām says it aloud.
- ʿAṭāʾ رحمه الله reported: “I met 200 Companions in this masjid; when the Imām said wa la’ḍ-ḍāllīn, I heard their loud sound of Āmīn.” (Sunan al-Bayhaqī al-Kubrā 2/59).
◈ Ḥanbalī Madhhab
- The Ḥanbalīs agree with the Shāfiʿīs: the follower should say Āmīn aloud.
- References: Abū Isḥāq al-Ḥanbalī al-Mubdiʿ 1/439, Ibn Qudāmah al-Mughnī 1/490, Maṭālib Ūlī al-Nuhā 1/431, al-Furūʿ 1/316.
Proofs:
- The ḥadīth: “When the Imām says Āmīn, then say Āmīn, for the one whose Āmīn coincides with the angels will have his past sins forgiven.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim) - Report of ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr رضي الله عنه: “When Ibn al-Zubayr said Āmīn, those behind him would say it so loudly that the masjid would echo.” (Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq 2/96, no. 263).
◈ The Preferred (Rājiḥ) Opinion
Based on the clear aḥādīth and the practice of the Ṣaḥābah:
✔ In loud prayers, the followers should say Āmīn aloud, just as the Imām does.
✔ In silent prayers, Āmīn should be said quietly.
Proofs:
① The hadith: If the Imām says ghayri’l-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa la’ḍ-ḍāllīn, then say Āmīn… — the Imām says this aloud, so the follower’s Āmīn must also be aloud.
② Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said: “The Prophet ﷺ said Āmīn and the people behind him said Āmīn.” (Sunan al-Nasā’ī, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah).
③ ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها: “The Jews never envied you more than for your salām and your saying Āmīn.” Their envy only makes sense if Āmīn was loud.
④ The report of Ibn al-Zubayr and the Companions saying Āmīn aloud until the masjid echoed.
Conclusion:
The strongest view is that the follower says Āmīn aloud in loud prayers, and quietly in silent prayers.
والله أعلم بالصواب
