CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

PERFORMING ZIKAR LOUDLY

In some places, Durood Sharif and some Tasbeeh are recited loudly after narnaaz. The opposition call doing so Haraam and try to stop it through numerous chicanery.

One deception used by them is saying that loud Zikr (Zikr bil-Jahr) is an Innovation (Bidat) and contrary to the principles (usool) of the Hanafi Fiqh. People in namaaz are disturbed by it and consequently forget what they are reading. Thus, according to them, this Zikr is Haraarn. Insha-Allah, loud Zikr being permissible (and even necessary at times) shall be proven by us.

PROOF OF LOUD ZIKR

Loud zikr is permitted and proven from the Quran, Hadith and rulings of the Learned. The Holy Quran states, "Remember Allahعزوجل just as how you remember your forefathers; and even more than their remembrance." 18.1 - Surah Baqarah, Verse 200

After completing the Hajj, the Kuffaar of Makkah used to speak about their family virtues and nationalistic greatness in gatherings, Doing so is prohibited in this ayat and making Allah’sعزوجل Zikr instead has been ordered, It is evident that this Zikr will be loud, which is why reading the talbiyah ("Labbaik", ") loudly is Sunnah, especially when meeting crowds and gatherings of people, Allahعزوجل states, "When the Quran is recited, listen to it and remain silent." 18.la We can deduce from this that reciting the Quran loudly is permitted. Only loud Zikr can be heard, not silent {Zikr-e-Khafi]."-Tafseer Kabeer, under the abovementioned ayat.

Mishkaat Sharif states, "When the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to complete his Salaah, he would loudly recite, "Laa ilaaha illallaah wahdahu lashareeka lahu." 18.3 ­Baabuz-Zilcr bad'as-Salaah

Mishkaat also states, "Hadrat Ibn Abbas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states, "I used to know that the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had completed his Salaah by the sound of Takbeer." 18.4 - Ibid

Due to his young age, Hadrat Abdullah ibn Abbas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ did not attend some namaaz with jamaat. He says, "After Salaah, the Muslims used to recite the Takbeer so loudly that we at home would understand that they have completed it."

Under this Hadith, Shaikh Abdul-Haqq رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ writes, "Hadrat Abdullah ibn Abbas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was a child at that time. That is why he was not punctual in attending Salaah withjamaat.,,18.5 Lam'oatu-Tanqeeh

Hadrat Abdullah ibn Abbas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ himself states, "Making the zikr of Allahعزوجل loudly after completing the Fardh Salaah was practiced in the time of the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم 18.5a-Muslim, Vol. 1, Baabuz-Zikr baad'as-Salaah

A Hadith reports Allahعزوجل to have said, "I also remember in my heart the person who remembers me in his heart. For he who makes My Zikr (remembrance) in a gathering, I make his Zikr in a gathering more prestigious than his (i.e. the gathering of the angels)." 18.6 -Mishkaat, Baabu-Zikrullah

Imaam Jalaaluddin Suyuti records the following Hadith, "Hadrat Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ reports the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم to have said, "Recite "Laa ilaaha illallaah" excessively in a Janaazah,',18.7 - Jaame-Sagheer

We see in this that to recite the Kalima Sharif or any other Zikr with the Janaazah is permissible in any manner, loudly or silently. The Ustaad in Hadith of Maulwi Rashid Ahmed, Shaikh Muhammad Thaanwi, writes, "The Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and Sahaaba used to make Tasbeeh and Tahleelloudly after namaaz." 18.8 _ Risaalah Azkaar, Pg, 79

Commentating on the ayat, “ربنا ما خلقت ھذا باطلا سبحنک فقنا عذاب النار “18.9 Allama Ismail Haqqi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ writes, "To make Zikr loudly is not only permissible, but preferable if there is no show (riya). This is so that the Deen is made visible and apparent. The blessings of Zikr reach both the listeners in the home and those who engage themselves in it after hearing its sound. On the Day of Qiyaamat, every wet and dry object will testify to the Imaan of a person who makes Zikr." 18.10-Roohul-Bayaan

This confirms that there are many Deeni benefits to loud Zikr. Under the ayat, “و اتینا داود زبورا ” 18.11 Tafseer Khaazin and Roohul-Bayaan, Parah 6, record the following Hadith: The Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said to Hadrat Abu Musa Ash'ari رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, "I have listened to your Qiraat. You have been blessed with the voice of Dawood." He replied, "Oath on Allahعزوجل, if I knew that the Quran Personified (i.e. Rasoolullah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) was listing to my recitation of the Holy Quran, I would've recited it in a better voice.

Two facts emerge from this Hadith,

1. The Sahaaba used to make Zikr so loudly that its sound was heard outside of their homes.

2. Zikrullah and recitation of the Holy Quran is the worship (ibaadat) of Allahعزوجل. The desire of the Sahaaba was to please the Noble Messengerصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم even then!

Hadrat Abdullah ibn Abbas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ himself states, "Making the zikr of Allahعزوجل loudly after completing the Fardh Salaah was practiced in the time of the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم."

Once, Rasoolullahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came out at night to examine his Sahaaba (i.e. to see what they busied themselves with at night). He saw Hadrat Abu Bakr رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ reciting the Holy Quean softly while Hadrat Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was reciting it very loudly. In the morning, when he asked them about their respective actions, Hadrat Abu Bakr رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہI replied, "Ya Rasoolullah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم! He who I was reciting for (i.e. Allahعزوجل) has listened to it." Hadrat Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, "I was waking up those who were sleeping and chasing Shaitaan away," I8.12b