Reciting Bismillah loudly In Fatiha
Reciting Bismillah loudly In Fatiha
According to some Sunni schools Bismillah is to be recited loudly in loud prayers before Surah al- Fatiha and other Surahs. Hanafis and Malikis prove that one has to say it silently.
The proofs for saying it silently are:
Anas reported: I observed prayer along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and with Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with all of them), but I never heard any one of them reciting Bismillah -ir- Rahman -ir- Rahim loudly. [Sahih Muslim, Hadith # 786]
Those who recite Bismillah aloud have sound proofs too, because Bismillah is part of Surah al- Fatiha and hence it has to be recited loudly as well.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "When you recite ‘al- Hamdu Lillah,’ recite ‘Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem,’ for it is the Sum of the Qur’an (Umm al-Qur’an), and the Compriser of the Scripture (Umm al- Kitab), and the Seven Oft- Repeated [Verses] (al- Sab‘ al- Mathani)—and ‘Bismi Llahi r- Rahmani r- Rahim’ is one of its verses" (Bayhaqi, 2.45; and Daraqutni, 1.312, Translation taken from Shaykh Nuh’s article on Why Muslims follow Madhabs).
Imam Ibn Kathir (rah) has written in detail over this and shown both opinions whether Bismillah is to be recited loudly or silently. He was more inclined towards reciting it loudly and shows many hadiths. [Refer to Tafsir Ibn Kathir under Surah Fatiha Verse # 1]
Reconciliation: Both opinions have strong proofs in this regard. Hence, all schools are correct.
About Author:
