Taken from: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah – Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām
In congregational prayer, is it obligatory for the follower (muqtadi) to say “Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah” or not?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Shaykh Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī (رحمه الله) in his famous book Ṣifat Ṣalāt al-Nabī has explained his position on this issue as follows:
◈ According to Imām al-Albānī (رحمه الله), both the imam and the follower should say “Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah” in prayer.
◈ His reasoning is that the Prophet ﷺ himself used to say these words in prayer and also taught them to his Companions.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ said:
"صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي"
"Pray as you have seen me praying."
According to Imām al-Albānī (رحمه الله):
(Ṣifat Ṣalāt al-Nabī, 2/679)
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Question:
In congregational prayer, is it obligatory for the follower (muqtadi) to say “Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah” or not?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Shaykh Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī (رحمه الله) in his famous book Ṣifat Ṣalāt al-Nabī has explained his position on this issue as follows:
◈ According to Imām al-Albānī (رحمه الله), both the imam and the follower should say “Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah” in prayer.
◈ His reasoning is that the Prophet ﷺ himself used to say these words in prayer and also taught them to his Companions.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ said:
"صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي"
"Pray as you have seen me praying."
Summary:
According to Imām al-Albānī (رحمه الله):
- “Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah” is not exclusive to the imam.
- Every person praying — whether alone, as imam, or as follower — should say these words in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
- Thus, all worshippers should act upon this Sunnah.
(Ṣifat Ṣalāt al-Nabī, 2/679)
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
