Reciting Bismillah Aloud

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.

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.
By presenting this information, we see the authenticity and different perspectives regarding the recitation of Bismillah aloud and silently in prayers.
 
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