Fatwa ID: 08535

 

 

Answered by Maulana Yusuf Badshah

 

Question:

 

I know that in fard Salah during the silent rakats I should recite loud enough to hear myself, but I really struggle with this. I can’t recite silently enough so that only I can hear myself, even others around me can hear.

 

I wanted to know if my prayers are valid if those around me can hear my recitation during the silent rakats. I try my best to whisper. When I can’t hear myself reciting I believe I’m reciting incorrectly. This happens to me when I’m an imam and when praying alone. 

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

It is best to recite quietly such that those around you can’t hear you, whether you can hear yourself or not [1].

 

If for some reason you are unable to recite quietly enough, then you will be excused [2]. There is no reason why reciting quietly should lead to more mistakes than reciting loudly.

 

Regardless, if you are certain that you have made a mistake then repeat the verse. If you are less certain, then ignore such thoughts and keep reciting [3].

 

 

 

References:

 

[1] Surah A-Isra’ 110:

{ … وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا ۞}

 

[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari 4846:

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَزْهَرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنِي مُوسَى بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم افْتَقَدَ ثَابِتَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ لَكَ عِلْمَهُ‏.‏ فَأَتَاهُ فَوَجَدَهُ جَالِسًا فِي بَيْتِهِ مُنَكِّسًا رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا شَأْنُكَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ شَرٌّ‏.‏ كَانَ يَرْفَعُ صَوْتَهُ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ، وَهْوَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ‏.‏ فَأَتَى الرَّجُلُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ كَذَا وَكَذَا ـ فَقَالَ مُوسَى ـ فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ الْمَرَّةَ الآخِرَةَ بِبِشَارَةٍ عَظِيمَةٍ فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ اذْهَبْ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْ لَهُ إِنَّكَ لَسْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، وَلَكِنَّكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ‏”

 

[3] Raddul Muhtar, vol. 2, pg. 93, Darul Fikr:

(وَإِنْ كَثُرَ) شَكُّهُ (عَمِلَ بِغَالِبِ ظَنِّهِ إنْ كَانَ) لَهُ ظَنٌّ

 

 

 

 

 

Only Allah s.w.t knows best.

Written by Maulana Yusuf Badshah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham