Why Say Bismillah Aloud?
It is narrated by Imam Hasan Al-Askari (‘a) that to recite the Bismillah aloud in every salat is a sign of a true believer.1 It is also narrated that Imam ‘Ali (‘a) used to say his salat in this way. We read from Dr. Muhammad al-Tijani al-Samawi:
Such is the Holy Qur'an, and such is the Prophet whose conduct was the embodiment of the injunctions of the Holy Qur'an. Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama`a, because of the intensity of their animosity towards ‘Ali Ibn Abu Talib and Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), deliberately contradicted the latter in everything, so much so that their motto was to oppose ‘Ali and his Shi`as in every aspect, even if that meant contradicting a Sunnah (tradition of the Prophet) which they themselves regard as authentic.
Since Imam ‘Ali was famous for reciting the bismillah audibly even while reciting the inaudible prayers in order to revive the Prophet's Sunnah, a number of the sahaba (companions) expressed their view that it is makrooh (disliked) to recite it in the prayers. So is the case with regard to holding the hands versus placing them on the sides, the supplication during the qunoot, in addition to other issues relevant to the daily prayers. 2 Anas Ibn Malik, therefore, used to weep and complain thus: “By Allah! I hardly find anything being done anymore which the Messenger of Allah used to do.” He was asked, “What about the prayers?” He said, “You have altered it, too.”3
We follow the example of the Prophet and the Imams from his Ahl Al-Bayt(‘a) who recited bismillah aloud. It was the Umayyads who were hostile to the family of the Prophet, who deviated from this practice to be different from the Shi’a.
Imam Nishaburi reports in his book Tafsir Ghara’ib Al-Qur’an that: “There is another charge that ‘Ali (‘a) used to amplify in raising his voice in the bismillah and during the reign of the Umayyads they have exaggerated in preventing this practice in attempt to obliterate every trace for ‘Ali (‘a).”
The first to start this practice was Mu’awiyah Ibn Abu Sufyan.4 So whoever says salat without reciting the bismillah aloud has contradicted the sunnah and followed the innovations of the Umayyad’s in obliterating the traces of ‘Ali (‘a), knowingly or unknowingly. This is why it is important to know the reasons behind the differences of opinion.
- 1. Karbala and Beyond by Yasin T. al-Jibouri page 125. Online at:
https://www.al-islam.org/karbala-and-beyond-yasin-t-al-jibouri - 2. The Shi’a the Real Followers of the Sunnah by Dr. Muhammad al-Tijani al-Samawi page 187 in the chapter The Sunnah and the Qur'an According to "Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama`a"
Available online at:
https://www.al-islam.org/shiah-are-real-ahlul-sunnah-muhammad-al-tijani-... - 3. Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Vol. 1, p. 74
- 4. Commentary of Surah Fatiha in the Holy Qur’an, translated by S.V. Mir Ahmed ‘Ali.