Legal Ruling on Loud Dhikr and the Virtue of Silent Remembrance
Referenced from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Pg. 61
What is the Shar'i (Islamic legal) ruling on Dhikr bil-Jahr (remembrance of Allah aloud)? Is it permissible, impermissible, or simply allowed? Kindly provide a detailed explanation.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
◈ It is preferable for a person to remember Allah silently (dhikr khafī) and likewise to supplicate in a low voice, as this is more correct and virtuous based on authentic evidences.
◄ Allah ﷻ says:
﴿ادعوا رَبَّكُم تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفيَةً ۚ إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ المُعتَدينَ﴾
"Call upon your Lord with humility and in secret. Surely, He does not like the transgressors."
(Sūrat al-A‘rāf: 55)
◄ He also states:
﴿وَاذكُر رَبَّكَ فى نَفسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخيفَةً وَدونَ الجَهرِ مِنَ القَولِ بِالغُدُوِّ وَالءاصالِ وَلا تَكُن مِنَ الغـٰفِلينَ﴾
"And remember your Lord within yourself with humility and fear and without loudness in speech, in the mornings and evenings. And do not be among the heedless."
(Sūrat al-A‘rāf: 205)
◄ Concerning the dhikr of Prophet Zakariyyā (عليه السلام), Allah ﷻ said:
﴿إِذ نادىٰ رَبَّهُ نِداءً خَفِيًّا﴾
"When he called out to his Lord in a low voice."
(Sūrat Maryam: 3)
◈ These verses explicitly prove that silent dhikr is more virtuous and desired.
◄ Sayyidunā Abū Mūsā al-Ash‘arī (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
"We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Whenever we climbed a valley, we would loudly proclaim 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh' and 'Allāhu Akbar'. The Prophet ﷺ said:
'Be gentle with yourselves; you are not calling upon a deaf or absent one. Rather, He is near and hears your supplication.'"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2992, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2704)
This narration clearly shows that raising the voice excessively in dhikr and du‘ā is disapproved.
◄ The Prophet ﷺ also stated:
"The best dhikr is that which is done silently, and the best sustenance is that which suffices."
(Musnad Aḥmad 6/151, Ibn Ḥibbān 577, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb 1495, Shu‘ab al-Īmān 4/75)
This hadith plainly indicates that silent remembrance is superior.
◄ Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله compiled a chapter:
"Chapter: It is disliked to raise the voice in Takbīr excessively."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Jihād 2992)
◄ Imām al-Ṭabarī رحمه الله said:
"This hadith indicates the dislike of raising the voice in du‘ā and dhikr, and most of the Companions and their followers upheld this view."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī 6/101)
◉ Imām al-Shāfi‘ī رحمه الله stated:
"Loud dhikr after prayer was only for the purpose of teaching. It was not a continuous practice. The preferred method is for both the imām and the followers to remember Allah silently."
(al-Majmū‘ 3/497)
◉ According to Imām Abū Ḥanīfah رحمه الله, dhikr bil-jahr is an innovation (bid‘ah).
◉ Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
"Silent dhikr is a sign of humility and submission of the heart, whereas loud dhikr may involve showiness and ostentation."
(Badā’i‘ al-Fawā’id 3/6)
◉ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله mentioned:
"Du‘ā should be made in a soft tone; making du‘ā loudly is disliked."
(Sharḥ Muslim 1/311)
◉ Imām Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله said:
"There is consensus among the Muslims that loud dhikr after obligatory prayers is disliked, except when done for teaching purposes."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī 2/259)
◉ In Baḥr al-Rā’iq, it is stated:
"Loud dhikr is a bid‘ah and contrary to the command of Allah (واذكر ربك فى نفسك...)."
(Baḥr al-Rā’iq 5/57)
◉ Tafsīr al-Maẓharī says:
"The scholars are unanimous that dhikr bil-jahr is a bid‘ah, except where proven by Shar‘i evidence, such as the adhān, talbiyah, and takbīrāt of tashrīq."
(Tafsīr al-Maẓharī 3/407)
◈ Dhikr bil-jahr is allowed in specific contexts, such as:
➊ Adhān
➋ Takbīrāt during prayer
➌ Talbiyah during Ḥajj
➍ Recitation in loud prayers
➎ Teaching purposes
◈ However, as a general rule, loud dhikr is not recommended and is considered a bid‘ah.
◈ Therefore, it is best for a person to engage in silent dhikr of Allah, as this was the method of the Prophet ﷺ and his noble Companions.
Wa-Allāhu A‘lam bi-ṣ-Ṣawāb
Referenced from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Pg. 61
❖ Question:
What is the Shar'i (Islamic legal) ruling on Dhikr bil-Jahr (remembrance of Allah aloud)? Is it permissible, impermissible, or simply allowed? Kindly provide a detailed explanation.
✔ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
◈ It is preferable for a person to remember Allah silently (dhikr khafī) and likewise to supplicate in a low voice, as this is more correct and virtuous based on authentic evidences.
✿ Evidences from the Qur'an and Sunnah
① Evidence from the Noble Qur’an
◄ Allah ﷻ says:
﴿ادعوا رَبَّكُم تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفيَةً ۚ إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ المُعتَدينَ﴾
"Call upon your Lord with humility and in secret. Surely, He does not like the transgressors."
(Sūrat al-A‘rāf: 55)
◄ He also states:
﴿وَاذكُر رَبَّكَ فى نَفسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخيفَةً وَدونَ الجَهرِ مِنَ القَولِ بِالغُدُوِّ وَالءاصالِ وَلا تَكُن مِنَ الغـٰفِلينَ﴾
"And remember your Lord within yourself with humility and fear and without loudness in speech, in the mornings and evenings. And do not be among the heedless."
(Sūrat al-A‘rāf: 205)
◄ Concerning the dhikr of Prophet Zakariyyā (عليه السلام), Allah ﷻ said:
﴿إِذ نادىٰ رَبَّهُ نِداءً خَفِيًّا﴾
"When he called out to his Lord in a low voice."
(Sūrat Maryam: 3)
◈ These verses explicitly prove that silent dhikr is more virtuous and desired.
② Evidences from the Noble Hadith
◄ Sayyidunā Abū Mūsā al-Ash‘arī (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
"We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Whenever we climbed a valley, we would loudly proclaim 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh' and 'Allāhu Akbar'. The Prophet ﷺ said:
'Be gentle with yourselves; you are not calling upon a deaf or absent one. Rather, He is near and hears your supplication.'"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2992, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2704)
This narration clearly shows that raising the voice excessively in dhikr and du‘ā is disapproved.
◄ The Prophet ﷺ also stated:
"The best dhikr is that which is done silently, and the best sustenance is that which suffices."
(Musnad Aḥmad 6/151, Ibn Ḥibbān 577, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb 1495, Shu‘ab al-Īmān 4/75)
This hadith plainly indicates that silent remembrance is superior.
◄ Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله compiled a chapter:
"Chapter: It is disliked to raise the voice in Takbīr excessively."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Jihād 2992)
◄ Imām al-Ṭabarī رحمه الله said:
"This hadith indicates the dislike of raising the voice in du‘ā and dhikr, and most of the Companions and their followers upheld this view."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī 6/101)
✿ Opinions of the Jurists
◉ Imām al-Shāfi‘ī رحمه الله stated:
"Loud dhikr after prayer was only for the purpose of teaching. It was not a continuous practice. The preferred method is for both the imām and the followers to remember Allah silently."
(al-Majmū‘ 3/497)
◉ According to Imām Abū Ḥanīfah رحمه الله, dhikr bil-jahr is an innovation (bid‘ah).
◉ Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
"Silent dhikr is a sign of humility and submission of the heart, whereas loud dhikr may involve showiness and ostentation."
(Badā’i‘ al-Fawā’id 3/6)
◉ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله mentioned:
"Du‘ā should be made in a soft tone; making du‘ā loudly is disliked."
(Sharḥ Muslim 1/311)
◉ Imām Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله said:
"There is consensus among the Muslims that loud dhikr after obligatory prayers is disliked, except when done for teaching purposes."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī 2/259)
◉ In Baḥr al-Rā’iq, it is stated:
"Loud dhikr is a bid‘ah and contrary to the command of Allah (واذكر ربك فى نفسك...)."
(Baḥr al-Rā’iq 5/57)
◉ Tafsīr al-Maẓharī says:
"The scholars are unanimous that dhikr bil-jahr is a bid‘ah, except where proven by Shar‘i evidence, such as the adhān, talbiyah, and takbīrāt of tashrīq."
(Tafsīr al-Maẓharī 3/407)
✿ When is Loud Dhikr Permissible?
◈ Dhikr bil-jahr is allowed in specific contexts, such as:
➊ Adhān
➋ Takbīrāt during prayer
➌ Talbiyah during Ḥajj
➍ Recitation in loud prayers
➎ Teaching purposes
◈ However, as a general rule, loud dhikr is not recommended and is considered a bid‘ah.
Summary
- Loud dhikr is generally disliked and deemed a bid‘ah, unless done due to a Shar‘i need.
- The default and correct method of remembrance is silent (khafī), as it reflects greater humility and sincerity.
- The Qur'an and Sunnah clearly praise silent remembrance, while there is no strong evidence supporting loud dhikr as a regular practice.
- If someone performs loud dhikr for the purpose of instruction, it is permissible temporarily—but not as a permanent habit.
◈ Therefore, it is best for a person to engage in silent dhikr of Allah, as this was the method of the Prophet ﷺ and his noble Companions.
Wa-Allāhu A‘lam bi-ṣ-Ṣawāb
