Salafi Research Institute SRI
Itihaf ul-Basim Fi Tahqiq Muwatta al-Imam Malik [Talkhis al-Qabisi] Riwayah Abdur Rahman ibn al-Qasim
Tahqiq, Takhrij, Sharh
Muhadith Zubair Ali Zai
Translated Abu Ubaydah
Translated, Checked & Additional Notes
Abu Hibban & Abu Khuzaimah Ansaari
The Virtue of Saying Amin In the Prayer and Amin Loudly
Sa’id and Abu Salamah: Two Ahadith
[18] And with the same chain of narration that the Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Was-Sallam) said, “When the Imam says ‘Amin’, say ‘Amin’, for the one whose ‘Amin’ coincides with the ‘Amin’ of the angels – his previous wrong actions are forgiven.”
Ibn Shihab said, “The Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Was-Sallam) used to say ‘Amin’ (extending it).”
[GRADING] – [SAHIH]
Ibn Shihab az-Zuhri clarified hearing this hadith (from Sa’id Ibn Musayab and Abu Salamah Ibn Abdirahman) here (in this hadith by saying, “He reported to me…” [Akhbaraahu])
[REFERENCES] – [AGREED UPON]
Al-Muwatta (Yahya’s narration (1/87 hadith no.191, book 3, chapter 11, hadith (2/44), at-Tamhid (7/8) and al-Istidhkar (no.167)
Transmitted by Bukhari (no.780) and Muslim (no.410) from the hadith of Malik.
[UNDERSTANDING FROM THE HADITH]
1) Imam Abul Abbas Siraj reported from Imam Zuhri with an authentic chain that, “When the Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Was-Sallam) prayed ‘Wa Ladhalin’ then he would say Amin loudly” (hadith as-Siraj, written by me (pg.35))
2) The noble muhadithin have used this hadith to establish the issue of reciting Amin loudly. See Sahih Bukhari (no.780) and Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah ((1/286) hadith (no.570)) and Sunan Ibn Majah (no.852) and Sunan an-Nasa’i ((2/144) hadith (no.929))
3) Wail Ibn Hujr (RadhiAllaahu Anhu) narrated that he prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Was-Sallam) and he prayed Amin loudly. (Sunan Abu Dawud: (no.933), al-Khilafiyat of Bayhaqi, written by me (pg.1/51) and its chain is [Hasan] good)
Putting this type of narration into consideration Imam Muslim says: “All the narrations that the Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Was-Sallam) said Amin loudly are mutawatir” (book of tamyiz written by me (pg.9), published (pg.40))
4) The narration where Imam Shu’ba mentioned Amin (being said) quietly is weak according to the noble muhadithin because of it being [Shadh] strange. Even if this narration was authentic then this only meant that in the quiet prayer Amin should be said quietly. Remember that there is an ijma to say Amin quietly in the quiet prayers.
5) The companions and tabi’in (in the loud prayers) used to say Amin loudly. See Sahih Bukhari (before hadith (no.780)) and Mussanaf Ibn Abi Shaybah ((2/425) hadith (no.7963) and its chain is [Hasan] good)
It is the action of the Jews being jealous of the salam and Amin. See Sunan Ibn Majah ((no.856) and its chain is authentic and Ibn Khuzaimah authenticated it: (no.1585), and Busiri in Zawa’id Ibn Majah, and Mundhiri in Targhib Wa Tarhib (1/328)) also see my book “al-Qawlul Matin Fi Jarh Bita’min”
6) Some people take from this hadith this issue that, “The Angels say Amin quietly because their voice is not heard therefore Amin should be said quietly”. So we stress and request the question that do you see or hear other actions of the Angels? and by not hearing Amin you result in giving a flawed fatwa that Amin should be said quietly? This is just equivalent to ‘resorting to sinking straws’ (meaning trying to achieve something that can’t be done, straws float and can’t sink)
7) The virtue of praying Amin in the prayer is a means of forgiveness.
8) From this hadith it is established that if the latecomer has recited a part of Surah Fatiha or is going to start reciting Surah Fatiha, and the Imam says Amin then he (the latecomer) should also say Amin and finish reciting Surah Fatiha after. Now if he has reached his Wa Ladhalin and the Imam is reciting (another surah) after saying Amin then he will not say Amin rather he will stay quiet just how it is established from other general proofs.
