THREAD

Loud Dhikr by Imām al-Suyūṭī رحمه الله

Natījatual-FikriFial-JahrFial-Dhikr

Is the practice of Loud Dhikr hated or disliked (makrūh)?

In fact, there is nothing disliked in it at all. Many statements of the Prophet ﷺ have actually suggested that open and loud dhikr (al jahr bi al-dhikr) is preferred. There are also those hadith that justify silent

dhikr. Both these views are correct in relation to the varying nature of individuals.

1. Ṣaḥīḥ of Imām Bukhari and Muslim

The Prophet ﷺ said

"Allāh says ' I am towards My servant as he is towards Me. I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me within himself. I remember him within Myself. If he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a

gathering better than it."
Dhikr made in a gathering can only be aloud.

Imām al-Suyūṭī is explaining that there is no reason for Ḥadīth to have the extra wording 'in a gathering' if it is done in a silent fashion, otherwise it is equivalent to the 'wording himself.' Therefore

The mention can only be out loud in a gathering, thus his addition of 'it can only be aloud' (lā yakūna illā 'an jahri)

2. It is reported by Bazzār and Imam Hākim in his Mustadrak that it is narrated on the authority of Jābirرضي الله عنه who said:
“The Messenger of Allāhﷺ came to us and said, 'O people! Allāh has a group of angels in His service who descend and join gatherings of dhikr upon

The Earth. So graze well from the gardens of Paradise.
We asked, 'And where are the gardens of Paradise?'
He ﷺreplied, Gatherings of dhikr. So occupy yourselves in the remembrance of Allāh in the morning and in the evening."

The chain is considered to be rigourously

Authenticated. It is also narrated by Abū Ya'lā, Bazzār, Tabarānī in Al-Awsat. Similar to is is found in Majma' az-Zawā'id.

3. It is narrated in the Ṣaḥīḥ of Imām Muslim and by Hākim that it is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺsaid

"Allāh has appointed angels whose sole purpose is to wander around in search of the gatherings of dhikr upon the earth.
When

They arrive at a gathering of dhikr, they join in. They gather (in such numbers) that their wings cover each other until they reach the Heavens. Then afterwards, Allāh asks of them (Imām al-Suyūṭī adds though He knows better than them), Where have you come from?' They reply, We

have come from Your servants who are declaring You free of imperfections, magnifying You, Praising You and exalting your name. They pray to You and seek Your protection.' 'And what do they pray for?'
They answer, They pray for Paradise.' He says, 'Have they seen it?'
They reply,

'Our Lord, No.'
Allāh asks, 'How would they be had they seen it?
Then He asks, 'And from what do they seek My protection?' (Though He knew better than them)
They reply, 'From the fire.'
He asks, 'And have they seen it?
They say 'No."
He continues, 'What if they had seen it?'

Then he says, 'Bear witness that I have forgiven them, granted them their request and saved them from what they fear.'
The angels beseech, 'Our Lord. There is among them a sinful man who is not from them and happened to sit with them.' To this Allāh replies, I have also forgiven

Him for they are such people that in their presence no hardship is inflicted."

4. Muslim and Tirmidhī narrate that it is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah and Abū Sa'īd who heard the Messenger of Allāh ﷺsaying:

“No group of people who occupy themselves in the remembrance of Allah Almighty are left without being joined by the angels. They are

Sheltered with mercy and tranquility descends upon them and Allāh mentions them to those who are close to him"

5. Imām Muslim and Imām Tirmidhī narrate that it is narrated by Mu'āwiya the Messenger of Allāhﷺ came across a circle of his companions and asked:

"What made you sit here?”
They replied: "We are sitting here in order to make remembrance of Allāh and to praise Him." The Holy

Prophetﷺ said:
"Indeed Jibrīl has come to me and informed me that Allāh is well pleased with you and boasts of you to the angles."

'Boasts' in this context is in a non-negative sense: He is proud of them. It is important to note that the audience is the angels - creatures

unable to sin and thought of as amongst the best of creation. However making dhikr in this fashion raises them above the angels and this is why Allah boasts to the angels, and Allāh knows best.

6. Ḥakīm narrates in his Mustadrak (he considers the chain rigourously authenticated) & Bayhaqī narrates in his Shu'ab al-Imān that it is narrated by Abū Sa'īd Al-Khudrī that the Messenger of Allāhﷺ said

"Increase in the dhikr of Allāh until they call you mad."

Also found in

The Ṣaḥīḥ of Ibn Hibbān and Musnad of Imām Aḥmad.

7. Bayhaqī narrates in his Shu'ab al-Imān that it is narrated on the authority of Abū Jowzā that the Messengerﷺ said:

"Increase in dhikr of Allāh (so much) until the hypocrites say to you, 'You are doing this for show." This is a mursal Ḥadīth.

It is evident from this Ḥadīth and the one before it that others can only say these statements when they hear dhikr done loudly not silently.

There is so much more ahādīth Imām al-Suyūṭī has mentioned but this thread is too long already.

InshāAllāh this should suffice.

al-Suyūṭī. Jalāl al-Dīn.
"Natijatu al-Fikri Fi al-Jahr Fi al-Dhikr." Al-Hawī Al-Fatāwā.
Ed. Khalid Turtūsī.
Beirut: Dar Al-Kutub Al-Arabi, 2005.
399-405