Should the Ma’moom Say His Dhikr Aloud in Prayer?

There are some Ma’mooms (followers of the Imaam) who are in the habit of raising their voices in recitation or dhikr or supplication during prayer thereby causing confusion and mix-up to the one who is by their side. If this is done always, it is contrary to the Sunnah, because the Sunnah is to say it quietly according to the consensus of the Muslims especially if saying it aloud contains harm.  However, if the Ma’moom says any of the dhikr aloud sometimes, there is no harm. It is confirmed that there are some Ma’moom among the companions who said the opening supplication in prayer aloud and when they raised their heads from bowing and the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) did not disapprove of it.

It is established from Rifaa’ah Raafi’ az-Zuraqee that he said: “One day we were praying behind the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam). When he raised his head from bowing, he said, “Sami’a llaahu liman hamidah.” A man behind him said, “Rabbanaa walakal-hamd, hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feeh” (Our Lord! Praise is Yours, abundant, good and blessed praise). When the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) completed the prayer, he asked, “Who said these words?” The man replied, “I.” The Prophet said, “I saw over thirty angels competing to write it first.”[1]

Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr said: ‘[This hadeeth] is used as proof of the permissibility of saying dhikr aloud by the Ma’moom so long as it would not cause confusion to the one by his side.”[2] This [is permissible] if it is not done always otherwise confusion will definitely take place.[3]

Source: Ahkaam Hudoor al-Masaajid, p. 218 by Shaykh Abdullaah bin Saalih al-Fawzaan

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[1] Recorded by al-Bukhaaree (2/284)

[2] Fath al-Baaree (2/287)

[3] Refer to the previous reference