Saying Subḥān Allāh During Friday Sermons and Lectures: Ruling
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Page 282
❖ Question
Nowadays, during lectures or Qur’an recitation, some scholars instruct the audience not to remain silent but to say “Subḥān Allāh” aloud, claiming great virtue in it. This practice has even reached Friday sermons, where the audience is told not to sit silently like “ṣumm bukm” but to repeat “Subḥān Allāh”.
Did the Prophet ﷺ ever instruct the Companions (RA) to say “Subḥān Allāh” during admonition or Qur’an recitation? Or did the Companions themselves habitually respond in this manner?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
- Encouraging or forcing the audience to say “Subḥān Allāh” during lectures or Friday sermons was never practiced in the early righteous generations.
- Neither did the Prophet ﷺ instruct the Companions to do so, nor did the Companions (RA) themselves practice it.
- Hence, this custom has no basis in Qur’an or Sunnah.
❖ Qur’anic Evidence
Allah commands:
﴿وَاِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوْا لَہُ وَاَنْصِتُوْا﴾
“When the Qur’an is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent.”
According to one interpretation, this verse was revealed specifically about listening silently to the Friday sermon. Imām Rāzī mentioned this in Tafsīr al-Kabīr, and Tuhfat al-Aḥwadhī also records it.
❖ Clarification
- Though the Friday sermon is not itself ṣalāh, it requires similar concentration and silence.
- Just as one may not say “Subḥān Allāh” aloud during the Imām’s recitation in prayer, similarly it is not permissible for the preacher to encourage or force the audience to say “Subḥān Allāh” during the sermon.
- However, if a person spontaneously utters “Subḥān Allāh” out of awe or reflection, there is no harm in it.
❖ Conclusion
Encouraging or obligating the audience to say “Subḥān Allāh” during a sermon or lecture is not from the Qur’an and Sunnah, but rather contrary to Prophetic guidance. The correct requirement is silence and attentive listening.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
