Imam Says Takbir Aloud, Followers Say It Silently – What Is the Evidence?

Authored by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amaanpuri (حفظه الله)

❖ Question:​

What is the evidence that the Imam should say the Takbir aloud in Salah, while the followers (Muqtadi) should say it quietly?

❖ Answer:​

In Salah, the foundational principle is silence, as evidenced by the narration of Sayyiduna Zayd ibn Arqam رضي الله عنه, who said:

فَأُمِرْنَا بِالسُّكُوتِ، وَنُهِينَا عَنِ الْكَلَامِ .
“We were commanded to remain silent and forbidden from speaking during the prayer.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1200, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 539]

↰ This general command of silence applies to the Imam, the follower (Muqtadi), and the individual praying alone. Therefore, anyone wishing to speak or raise their voice during Salah must have clear evidence from the Shari'ah.

The Imam has such evidence and thus is permitted to pronounce the Takbir aloud, whereas no evidence exists for the follower or one praying alone to do the same — hence, they should say it quietly.

❖ Evidences for the Imam Saying Takbir Aloud:​

◈ Saeed bin Harith, a Tabi‘i, narrated:

صَلَّى لَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَجَهَرَ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ حِينَ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السُّجُودِ وَحِينَ سَجَدَ وَحِينَ رَفَعَ وَحِينَ قَامَ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ، وَقَالَ: هَكَذَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ .
“Abu Saeed Al-Khudri رضي الله عنه led us in prayer. He pronounced the Takbir aloud when raising his head from prostration, while going into prostration, while raising again, and when standing up after two Rak‘ahs. He then said: ‘This is how I saw the Prophet ﷺ do it.’”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 825]

◈ Imam al-Bayhaqi narrated a similar report with additional points:
فَجَهَرِ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ حِينَ افْتَتَحَ، وَحِينَ رَكَعَ، وَبَعْدَ أَنْ قَالَ: سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه .
“He pronounced the Takbir aloud at the beginning of prayer, when going into Ruku, and after saying: ‘Sami‘a Allahu liman ḥamidah.’”
[As-Sunan al-Kubrā: 2/18]

◈ Hafiz Nawawi رحمه الله graded this narration as Hasan (sound).
[Khilāṣat al-Aḥkām: 1/350]

◈ The narrator Fulayḥ ibn Sulaymān is found in both Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Muslim. Despite criticism, the majority of scholars have verified his reliability, making him a Hasan al-Ḥadīth narrator.

❖ Additional Evidence:​

◈ Sayyidah Aisha رضي الله عنها reported:

وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ، وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُسْمِعُهُمُ التَّكْبِيرَ .
“The Prophet ﷺ would lead the people in prayer, and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه would make them hear the Takbir.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 418]

↰ If followers were also reciting Takbir aloud, there would be no need for Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه to act as a Mukabbir (announcer). This confirms that only the Imam raises his voice, and others remain silent or say it quietly.

Conclusion:​

The core principle in Salah is silence. However, wherever the Shari‘ah provides evidence for raising the voice, that exception is applied. Accordingly, the Imam and Mukabbir may pronounce Takbir aloud, while followers and individuals praying alone should do so quietly, in adherence to the authentic Sunnah.