‍QUESTION:

What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: Why does the Imām recite quietly in Zuhr & ‘Asr and audibly in the rest?

Questioner: Aftab from UK

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

One reason for this is that at the start of Islām, there was a prevalence of non-Muslims. They used to blabber regarding the status of the Lord Almighty, the Noble Messenger ﷺ and Sayyidunā Jibrīl, upon whom be peace, whilst listening to the Qur’ān. They used to wander about during these two times [i.e. Zuhr and ‘Asr]; this is why we are commanded to recite quietly during these two Salāhs. They would be busy eating during Maghrib time, go sleep at ‘Ishā’ and did not awake at Fajr. Even though this is not the case nowadays, however the ruling will still be the same, so that Muslims, remembering this prevalence, thank Allāh ﷻ for the prevalence of Islām which is present today. The actual reason in terms of Fiqh [jurisprudence] is that the Noble Prophet ﷺ would always do so, whilst in Jamā’ah [congregation], in other words, he ﷺ would recite quietly in Zuhr & ‘Asr and would recite in an audible voice in the remaining Salāhs; and it is fard [obligatory] for Muslims to follow the Beloved Messenger ﷺ.

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali

Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0569] Why does the Imam recite quietly in Zuhr & Asr but audibly for the other prayers?

Also see:

[Q-ID0420] When praying Salah how loud should the recitation be?

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