Question: What is the reason why the recitation [of the Quran] has Islaamically been prescribed audibly in the Maghreeb, Isha & Fajar Salaah without the other remaining obligatory Salaah [being prescribed as audible i.e. Dhur & Asr], and what is the evidence for this?
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
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Dear brother,
Burhan.
Assalamualaikum WA
rahmatullahi WA barkatahu,
Question: What is the reason why the
recitation [of the Qur’an] has Islaamically been prescribed audibly in the
Maghreeb, ‘Isha & Fajar Salaah without the other remaining obligatory
Salaah [being prescribed as audible i.e. Dhur & ‘Asr], and what is the
evidence for this?
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errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
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Answer:
Wisdom for prayer volume aloud silent
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
The offering of the five obligatory prayers is something
which the Messenger of Allah (saws) offered in congregation thousands of times in
front of tens of thousands of witnesses.
There are numerous narrations from various narrators in the authentic
and established Sunnah who claimed that they were witnesses to the fact that
the Messenger of Allah (saws) always offered the first two rakahs of the
‘Fajr’, ‘Magrib’ and ‘Isha’ prayers aloud, and always offered the full ‘dhuhr’,
‘asr’, the last rakah of ‘magrib’ and the last two rakahs of ‘isha’ prayers
silently.
To the best of our knowledge, there is not even one
narration in the authentic and established Sunnah which even remotely implies
that the Messenger of Allah (saws) ever prayed the first two rakahs of the
‘Fajr’, ‘Magrib’ and ‘Isha’ prayers silently, or ever offered any rakah in the
‘dhuhr’, or ‘asr’, or the last rakah of ‘magrib’ or the last two rakahs of
‘isha’ prayers aloud!
It is indeed unfortunate that Islam today has been divided
in several sects and creeds; but one of the things that every single sect and
every single creed in Islam unanimously believes and follows is the number of
rakahs which are prayed aloud and/or silently in each of their five obligatory
prayers!
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 173 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar
Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘Verily,
my Ummah will not (unanimously) agree on error and the hand of Allah is
upon the community; he who sets himself apart from it will be set apart in Hell
Fire.’
Your Question: What is the reason why the recitation [of the Qur’an] has
Islaamically been prescribed audibly
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah
Ahzab verse 21:
There is indeed the best example for you to
follow in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah
and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.604 (part) Narrated by Malik
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Pray as
you have seen me praying.’
For every act of worship, it is absolutely obligatory upon
the believers to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah (saws)….if indeed
it is their desire that their worship be acceptable to Allah Subhanah. Thus the obvious and manifest reason the whole
Ummah offers the first two rakahs of the ‘Fajr’, ‘Magrib’ and ‘Isha’ prayers
aloud, and always offers the full ‘dhuhr’, ‘asr’, the last rakah of ‘magrib’
and the last two rakahs of ‘isha’ prayers silently in congregation is because
that is the way which their beloved Messenger (saws) offered his prayers while
in congregation.
To understand and comprehend the wisdom behind praying
some rakahs of some prayers aloud, and some rakahs and/or some prayers
silently….one needs to visualize the condition at the time of the Prophet
(saws) when there were no loud speakers, no proper lighting, no wrist watches
or clocks to determine the exact time of prayer, etc.
The first two rakahs of all the prayers that are prayed in
or approaching the ‘darkness’ of the night (fajr, magrib, and isha), were
prayed aloud so that in case one had somehow missed the announcement of
‘adhaan’, one could still approach the congregation through the recitation
which was being recited aloud. And the
two prayers which are prayed in broad daylight (dhuhr and asr) one could
approach them through their sight and thus their recitation aloud was not
necessary. And Allah Alone Knows Best.
Please also note that it is only when the believer offer
their prayers in congregation are they to recite the specific rakahs of the
designated prayer aloud and/or in silence; but in the supererogatory ‘Sunnah’
or ‘Nafl’ prayers, or when one offers their prayers alone, one is guided by
Allah and His Messenger (saws) to neither offer their prayer aloud, nor in
absolute silence, but seek a middle course between the two volumes.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah
Israa verse 110:
110 Say: "Call upon Allah or call upon Rahman: by whatever name ye
call upon Him (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither
speak thy Prayer aloud nor speak it in a low tone but seek a middle course
between."
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan