Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
➊ Narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"When the Imam says Āmīn, then you should also say Āmīn. Indeed, the one whose Āmīn coincides with the Āmīn of the angels will have his previous sins forgiven."
[Bukhari: 6402, Muslim: 410, Abu Dawood: 936, Tirmidhi: 250, Nasa’i: 925–926, Ibn Majah: 851–852, Muwatta: 1/87, Ibn Khuzaymah: 569, Ahmad: 2/233, Darimi: 1/284, Humaydi: 933]
➋ Narrated by Hazrat Aishah (رضي الله عنها):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"The Jews do not envy you for anything as much as they envy you for Salam and Āmīn."
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 697, Silsilah al-Sahihah: 691, al-Targhib wal-Tarhib: 1/328]
Another narration states:
"When the Imam says غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ, then say Āmīn."
[Bukhari: 782, Muslim: 620, Muwatta: 1/87]
This narration apparently seems contrary to the previous one (“When the Imam says Āmīn, then you say Āmīn”)—as this one orders to say Āmīn at the conclusion of the verse, not after the Imam’s Āmīn. However, the majority of scholars reconcile this by interpreting "إِذَا أَمَّنَ" as:
“When the Imam intends to say Āmīn.”
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/45]
➊ Narrated by Hazrat Wā’il bin Hujr (رضي الله عنه):
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ, he would say Āmīn and raise his voice with it.
[Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawood: 824, Sahih Tirmidhi: 205, Ahmad: 4/316, Abu Dawood: 932, Tirmidhi: 248, Bayhaqi: 2/57]
➋ Narrated by Na‘īm al-Mujmir (رحمه الله):
He narrated his experience of praying behind Hazrat Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه): when Abu Hurairah reached غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ, he said Āmīn, and the people also said Āmīn. Then he said, “In prayer, I am the most similar to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) among you.”
[Da‘if: Da‘if Nasa’i: 36; however, Shaykh Muhammad Ṣubḥi Ḥallāq declared it Sahih in his commentary on As-Sayl al-Jarrār: 1/486]
➌ It is narrated that Hazrat Ibn al-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه) and those praying behind him would say Āmīn so loudly that the mosque echoed.
[‘Abd al-Razzāq: 2/96, al-Awsat by Ibn al-Mundhir: 3/132]
➊ A narration from Hazrat Wā’il bin Hujr (رضي الله عنه) says that the Prophet (ﷺ) said Āmīn and lowered his voice with it.
[Shaadh: Da‘if Tirmidhi: 41, Ibn Majah: 855, Ahmad: 4/318, Daraqutni: 1/334]
This narration is reported by Shu‘bah, whereas the narration about raising the voice is from Sufyan. Imam Tirmidhi asked Imam Abu Zur‘ah about it, and he said:
“The Hadith of Sufyan in this matter is more authentic than the Hadith of Shu‘bah.”
[Tirmidhi: Kitab al-Salah, Bab Mā Jā’a fi al-Ta’mīn]
➋ Hazrat Wā’il bin Hujr (رضي الله عنه) narrated that Hazrat ‘Umar and Hazrat ‘Ali (رضي الله عنهما) would not recite Bismillah, Ta‘awwudh, or Āmīn aloud.
[Ṭaḥāwi: 1/150, Āthār al-Sunan: 125]
However, this narration is extremely weak due to the presence of Sa‘īd bin Marzabān al-Baqqāl.
[Mīzān al-I‘tidāl: 3/228]
**➌ It is narrated from Imām Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī that the Imam should recite five things silently:
Subḥānaka Allāhumma, Ta‘awwudh, Bismillah, Āmīn, and Rabbana Lakal-Ḥamd.
[Muṣannaf ‘Abd al-Razzāq]
It is clear that such opinions cannot be preferred over marfū‘ and sahīḥ narrations.
In audible (jahrī) prayers, both the Imam and the followers should say Āmīn loudly, and in silent (sirri) prayers, both should say Āmīn silently.
[Ibn Qudāmah: Al-Mughnī: 2/162]
✔ Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله): Authentic and strong Sunnah is to say Āmīn aloud.
[I‘lām al-Muwaqqi‘īn: 2/396]
✔ Shawkānī (رحمه الله): Preferred saying Āmīn aloud.
[Nayl al-Awtār: 2/48]
✔ ‘Abdur-Rahmān Mubārakpūrī (رحمه الله): There is consensus among the Companions on saying Āmīn loudly.
[Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī: 2/79]
✔ Ibn Ḥazm (رحمه الله): Both Imam and followers must say Āmīn loudly, as this is how it is authentically proven from the Prophet (ﷺ).
[Al-Muḥallā bil-Āthār: 2/295]
✔ Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān (رحمه الله): Saying Āmīn aloud is better than saying it quietly.
[Al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah: 1/272]
✔ ‘Abd al-Ḥayy Lakhnawī (Ḥanafī رحمه الله): Truth lies in saying Āmīn aloud due to stronger evidences.
[Al-Ta‘līq al-Mumajjad: 101, Al-Sāyāh: 13631]
✔ Ibn Humām (Ḥanafī رحمه الله): Saying Āmīn aloud is Sunnah.
[Fatḥ al-Qadīr: 1/107]
✔ Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī (رحمه الله): Even the Ḥanafīs acknowledge saying Āmīn aloud.
[Fatāwā al-Rashīdiyyah: 280, Fatāwā Shāmī: 1/134]
➤ Saying Āmīn is Sunnah
➊ Narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"When the Imam says Āmīn, then you should also say Āmīn. Indeed, the one whose Āmīn coincides with the Āmīn of the angels will have his previous sins forgiven."
[Bukhari: 6402, Muslim: 410, Abu Dawood: 936, Tirmidhi: 250, Nasa’i: 925–926, Ibn Majah: 851–852, Muwatta: 1/87, Ibn Khuzaymah: 569, Ahmad: 2/233, Darimi: 1/284, Humaydi: 933]
➋ Narrated by Hazrat Aishah (رضي الله عنها):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"The Jews do not envy you for anything as much as they envy you for Salam and Āmīn."
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 697, Silsilah al-Sahihah: 691, al-Targhib wal-Tarhib: 1/328]
Another narration states:
"When the Imam says غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ, then say Āmīn."
[Bukhari: 782, Muslim: 620, Muwatta: 1/87]
This narration apparently seems contrary to the previous one (“When the Imam says Āmīn, then you say Āmīn”)—as this one orders to say Āmīn at the conclusion of the verse, not after the Imam’s Āmīn. However, the majority of scholars reconcile this by interpreting "إِذَا أَمَّنَ" as:
“When the Imam intends to say Āmīn.”
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/45]
➤ Saying Āmīn Loudly is Legislated
➊ Narrated by Hazrat Wā’il bin Hujr (رضي الله عنه):
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ, he would say Āmīn and raise his voice with it.
[Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawood: 824, Sahih Tirmidhi: 205, Ahmad: 4/316, Abu Dawood: 932, Tirmidhi: 248, Bayhaqi: 2/57]
➋ Narrated by Na‘īm al-Mujmir (رحمه الله):
He narrated his experience of praying behind Hazrat Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه): when Abu Hurairah reached غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ, he said Āmīn, and the people also said Āmīn. Then he said, “In prayer, I am the most similar to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) among you.”
[Da‘if: Da‘if Nasa’i: 36; however, Shaykh Muhammad Ṣubḥi Ḥallāq declared it Sahih in his commentary on As-Sayl al-Jarrār: 1/486]
➌ It is narrated that Hazrat Ibn al-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه) and those praying behind him would say Āmīn so loudly that the mosque echoed.
[‘Abd al-Razzāq: 2/96, al-Awsat by Ibn al-Mundhir: 3/132]
➤ Juristic Opinions on Saying Āmīn Loudly vs. Silently
- Imams Ahmad, al-Shāfi‘ī, and Isḥāq are of the view that Āmīn should be said loudly.
- Imams Mālik and Abū Ḥanīfah opine that Āmīn should be said silently.
[References: Al-Umm: 1/214, Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab: 3/331, Al-Fiqh al-Islāmi wa Adillatuhu: 2/880, Ḥilyat al-‘Ulamā’: 2/107, Al-Mabsūṭ: 1/32, Al-Hidāyah: 1/48, Kashshāf al-Qinā‘: 1/339, Sabil al-Salām: 1/243, Nayl al-Awtār: 2/48]
➤ Evidences of Those Who Prefer Saying Āmīn Silently
➊ A narration from Hazrat Wā’il bin Hujr (رضي الله عنه) says that the Prophet (ﷺ) said Āmīn and lowered his voice with it.
[Shaadh: Da‘if Tirmidhi: 41, Ibn Majah: 855, Ahmad: 4/318, Daraqutni: 1/334]
This narration is reported by Shu‘bah, whereas the narration about raising the voice is from Sufyan. Imam Tirmidhi asked Imam Abu Zur‘ah about it, and he said:
“The Hadith of Sufyan in this matter is more authentic than the Hadith of Shu‘bah.”
[Tirmidhi: Kitab al-Salah, Bab Mā Jā’a fi al-Ta’mīn]
➋ Hazrat Wā’il bin Hujr (رضي الله عنه) narrated that Hazrat ‘Umar and Hazrat ‘Ali (رضي الله عنهما) would not recite Bismillah, Ta‘awwudh, or Āmīn aloud.
[Ṭaḥāwi: 1/150, Āthār al-Sunan: 125]
However, this narration is extremely weak due to the presence of Sa‘īd bin Marzabān al-Baqqāl.
[Mīzān al-I‘tidāl: 3/228]
**➌ It is narrated from Imām Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī that the Imam should recite five things silently:
Subḥānaka Allāhumma, Ta‘awwudh, Bismillah, Āmīn, and Rabbana Lakal-Ḥamd.
[Muṣannaf ‘Abd al-Razzāq]
It is clear that such opinions cannot be preferred over marfū‘ and sahīḥ narrations.
➤ The Stronger (Rājih) View
In audible (jahrī) prayers, both the Imam and the followers should say Āmīn loudly, and in silent (sirri) prayers, both should say Āmīn silently.
[Ibn Qudāmah: Al-Mughnī: 2/162]
➤ Scholars Supporting Loud Āmīn
✔ Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله): Authentic and strong Sunnah is to say Āmīn aloud.
[I‘lām al-Muwaqqi‘īn: 2/396]
✔ Shawkānī (رحمه الله): Preferred saying Āmīn aloud.
[Nayl al-Awtār: 2/48]
✔ ‘Abdur-Rahmān Mubārakpūrī (رحمه الله): There is consensus among the Companions on saying Āmīn loudly.
[Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī: 2/79]
✔ Ibn Ḥazm (رحمه الله): Both Imam and followers must say Āmīn loudly, as this is how it is authentically proven from the Prophet (ﷺ).
[Al-Muḥallā bil-Āthār: 2/295]
✔ Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān (رحمه الله): Saying Āmīn aloud is better than saying it quietly.
[Al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah: 1/272]
✔ ‘Abd al-Ḥayy Lakhnawī (Ḥanafī رحمه الله): Truth lies in saying Āmīn aloud due to stronger evidences.
[Al-Ta‘līq al-Mumajjad: 101, Al-Sāyāh: 13631]
✔ Ibn Humām (Ḥanafī رحمه الله): Saying Āmīn aloud is Sunnah.
[Fatḥ al-Qadīr: 1/107]
✔ Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī (رحمه الله): Even the Ḥanafīs acknowledge saying Āmīn aloud.
[Fatāwā al-Rashīdiyyah: 280, Fatāwā Shāmī: 1/134]
