Author: Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai
❀ ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Abza said: "I prayed behind Umar, and he recited بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ aloud."
ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Abza (رضي الله عنه) said: "I prayed behind ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) and he recited بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ aloud." [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 412/1, Hadith 4757; Sharh Maʿani al-Athar by al-Tahawi, with this wording 137/1; Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi 48/2]
All narrators are trustworthy and reliable, and the chain is connected; therefore, this chain is authentic.
ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAbbas and ʿAbdullah ibn al-Zubair (رضي الله عنهم) also recited بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ aloud.
This is documented in Juz al-Khatib, and authenticated by al-Dhahabi in Mukhtasar al-Jahr bil-Basmala by al-Khatib, p. 180, Hadith 41, and it has been declared authentic by al-Dhahabi.
It is also permissible to recite Bismillah silently, as evidenced by Hadiths from Sahih Muslim and other sources.
[Sahih Muslim 72/1, Hadith 399]
A brief verification of the narrators of the narration of ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) is as follows:
❀ ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Abza said: "I prayed behind Umar, and he recited بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ aloud."
ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Abza (رضي الله عنه) said: "I prayed behind ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) and he recited بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ aloud." [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 412/1, Hadith 4757; Sharh Maʿani al-Athar by al-Tahawi, with this wording 137/1; Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi 48/2]
All narrators are trustworthy and reliable, and the chain is connected; therefore, this chain is authentic.
Benefits:
This Hadith indicates that it is entirely correct for the Imam to recite بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ aloud in audible prayers.ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAbbas and ʿAbdullah ibn al-Zubair (رضي الله عنهم) also recited بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ aloud.
This is documented in Juz al-Khatib, and authenticated by al-Dhahabi in Mukhtasar al-Jahr bil-Basmala by al-Khatib, p. 180, Hadith 41, and it has been declared authentic by al-Dhahabi.
It is also permissible to recite Bismillah silently, as evidenced by Hadiths from Sahih Muslim and other sources.
[Sahih Muslim 72/1, Hadith 399]
A brief verification of the narrators of the narration of ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) is as follows:
- ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Abza (رضي الله عنه): He is a minor Companion.
[Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 3794] - Saʿid ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman (رحمه الله): He is trustworthy.
[Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 2346] - Dhar ibn ʿAbdullah: He is trustworthy, a devout worshiper, and was accused of Irja.
[Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 1840] - ʿUmar ibn Dhar: He is trustworthy and was accused of Irja.
[Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 4893] - This narration from ʿUmar ibn Dhar has been narrated by Khalid ibn Makhlad, Abu Ahmad, and Ibn Qutaybah. To verify these narrators, refer to sources such as Tahdheeb and others.