Written by: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (May Allah preserve him)
Question:
In our area, when the Imam recites Surah Al-A'la in prayer, the followers respond. Is this practice supported by the Sunnah of the Prophet?
Answer:
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما):
"When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) recited 'سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى' (Surah Al-A'la, Ayah 1), he would say, 'سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى' in response."
[Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Dua in Prayer, Hadith 883]
This narration is weak. The chain of narration includes Abu Ishaq al-Sabi'i, who was a mudallis (someone who used vague expressions like "عن" instead of directly stating he heard from someone), and there is no explicit mention of him hearing the narration. Additionally, trustworthy narrators have reported this narration in a mukhtasar (shortened) form. Furthermore, in Sunan al-Tirmidhi, there is a narration from Sayyidina Jabir (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) recited Surah Ar-Rahman to the Companions, but they remained silent. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) then said:
"I recited this Surah to the jinn on the Night of the Jinn, and they responded better than you."
"Whenever I reached the Ayah: 'فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ', they responded by saying: 'لا بشيء من نعمك ربنا نكذب فلك الحمد' (O our Lord! We do not deny any of Your blessings, and to You is all praise.)"
[Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of the Explanation of the Qur'an: Chapter on Surah Ar-Rahman, Hadith 3291]
This narration is sound based on its chain of narrators, but it does not mention anything specific regarding responding to verses during prayer. It refers to the recitation of the Qur'an in general.
In another authentic Hadith, it is narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) sometimes said in his prayer:
"اللّهُمّ حَاسِبْنِي حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا" (O Allah, make my reckoning easy)."
Imam al-Hakim (رحمه الله) graded this Hadith as authentic according to the conditions of Sahih Muslim, and Imam al-Dhahabi (رحمه الله) agreed with him.
[Al-Hakim, Hadith 501; Ahmad 6/48; Ibn Khuzaymah 849]
These narrations show that while it is permissible for a person who is reciting the Qur'an to respond, or for a listener to respond during a general recitation of the Qur'an, there is no specific narration from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) where the followers (mukhtadi) respond to the recitation of the Qur'an during prayer.
Therefore, based on the available evidence, responding to the verses of the Qur'an during prayer is not something that is proven from the Sunnah. Wallahu A'lam (And Allah knows best).
Question:
In our area, when the Imam recites Surah Al-A'la in prayer, the followers respond. Is this practice supported by the Sunnah of the Prophet?
Answer:
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما):
"When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) recited 'سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى' (Surah Al-A'la, Ayah 1), he would say, 'سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى' in response."
[Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Dua in Prayer, Hadith 883]
This narration is weak. The chain of narration includes Abu Ishaq al-Sabi'i, who was a mudallis (someone who used vague expressions like "عن" instead of directly stating he heard from someone), and there is no explicit mention of him hearing the narration. Additionally, trustworthy narrators have reported this narration in a mukhtasar (shortened) form. Furthermore, in Sunan al-Tirmidhi, there is a narration from Sayyidina Jabir (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) recited Surah Ar-Rahman to the Companions, but they remained silent. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) then said:
"I recited this Surah to the jinn on the Night of the Jinn, and they responded better than you."
"Whenever I reached the Ayah: 'فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ', they responded by saying: 'لا بشيء من نعمك ربنا نكذب فلك الحمد' (O our Lord! We do not deny any of Your blessings, and to You is all praise.)"
[Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of the Explanation of the Qur'an: Chapter on Surah Ar-Rahman, Hadith 3291]
This narration is sound based on its chain of narrators, but it does not mention anything specific regarding responding to verses during prayer. It refers to the recitation of the Qur'an in general.
In another authentic Hadith, it is narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) sometimes said in his prayer:
"اللّهُمّ حَاسِبْنِي حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا" (O Allah, make my reckoning easy)."
Imam al-Hakim (رحمه الله) graded this Hadith as authentic according to the conditions of Sahih Muslim, and Imam al-Dhahabi (رحمه الله) agreed with him.
[Al-Hakim, Hadith 501; Ahmad 6/48; Ibn Khuzaymah 849]
These narrations show that while it is permissible for a person who is reciting the Qur'an to respond, or for a listener to respond during a general recitation of the Qur'an, there is no specific narration from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) where the followers (mukhtadi) respond to the recitation of the Qur'an during prayer.
Therefore, based on the available evidence, responding to the verses of the Qur'an during prayer is not something that is proven from the Sunnah. Wallahu A'lam (And Allah knows best).