Question:
What is the ruling of raising one’s voice to recite the praise and salutations for the Prophet PBUH when the khatib mentioned the Prophet PBUH’s name during the Friday sermon?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam. Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
On Fridays, it is encouraged for us to recite praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH. This is in accordance with a hadith from Aus bin Aus RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
إِنَّ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ أَيَّامِكُمْ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَأَكْثِرُوا عَلَىَّ مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ فِيهِ فَإِنَّ صَلاَتَكُمْ مَعْرُوضَةٌ عَلَىَّ
“Among the most excellent of your days is Friday; so, invoke more blessings on me that day, for your blessings will be submitted to me.”
Sunan Abu Daud (1047)
However, there is a general prohibition for makmum to talk while the khatib is giving a sermon and it is sunnah for them to be quiet and listen to the sermon. This is in accordance with a statement of Allah SWT:
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“So, when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.”
Surah al-A’raf (204)
Syeikh al-Islam Zakariyya al-Ansari said: “Some scholars explained that the revealed verse is regarding the ruling of sermon and it is named as “Qur’anan” for most of the content of the sermon are verses of the Quran.” Refer Asna al-Matolib (1/258)
The same is stated in a hadith from Abu Hurairah RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا قُلْتَ لِصَاحِبِكَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَنْصِتْ وَالإِمَامُ يَخْطُبُ فَقَدْ لَغَوْتَ
"Even saying to your companion 'Listen' while the imam is giving the khutba on the day of jumuah, is to speak foolishly."
Sahih al-Bukhari (892) and Sahih Muslim (851)
Thus, does raising one’s voice to recite praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH when we hear the Prophet PBUH’s name is included in the above prohibition?
Scholars have differing opinions regarding this and their opinions are divided into three:
- Makruh (undesirable): It is prioritized to not recite praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH and this is the chosen opinion of Imam Ibn al-Mundzir. It is also the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Sufyan al-Thauri.
- Permissible if it is in a low voice: In madhhab Maliki and Hanbali, it is stated: “It is sunnah to recite praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH in a low voice.” Qadhi Abu Tayyib from madhhab Syafie said that it is makruh (undesirable) to raise one’s voice for it will break one’s concentration in listening to the sermon.
- Permissible even in a raised voice: It is sunnah. This is the chosen opinion in madhhab Syafie. The scholars state that it is permissible to raise one’s voice to recite praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH during the Friday sermon, supporting their statement with the following verse of the Quran:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
“Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.”
Surah al-Ahzab (56)
(Refer al-Bayan, 2/600)
However, it is prohibited to raise one’s voice excessively. Imam al-Azraie said: “Raising one’s voice when one is reciting praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH is not meant to be done excessively as some people do. Moreover, excessively raising one’s voice is considered as a bid’ah that should be avoided!” (Refer Asna al-Matolib, 1/270)
Syeikh al-Jamal said in his Hasyiah (2/32): “This is the strongest opinion, which state one should recite the praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH in a voice where only the people near him could hear him. Imam al-Ramli said: Raising one’s voice excessively is a bid’ah that should be avoided.”
Whereas according to Imam al-Nawawi, it is permissible. This is in accordance with his statement in Raudhah al-Talibin (2/48) and it is prioritized to just listen to the sermon. Refer Mughni al-Muhtaj (1/573) by Imam al-Syirbini al-Khatib.
According to the above discussion, we are inclined towards the opinion that praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH in a slightly raised voice is permissible. However, one should avoid raising his voice too high, that it would disturb others for scholars have agreed that this act is prohibited. Wallahua’lam.