The Legality of Reciting the Basmalah Audibly Sometimes:
Nu`aim Al-Mujmir said: “I prayed behind Aboo Hurairah (radiyallaahu `anhu) and he recited “Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem.” Then, he recited Soorah Al-Faatihah and said “Aameen,” and the people also said “Aameen.” And he said “Allaahu Akbar” every time he prostrated and when he got up after two raka`aat. And after he made Tasleem (said: Assalaamu `Alaikum wa Rahmatullaah), he said:
“I swear by the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I am certainly the closest of you in imitating the Salaah of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam).””
Authenticated by Ibn Khuzaimah (As-Saheeh, 499; 688; C.f. Al-Khulaasah, 1/370/1142), Ibn Hibbaan (1797, 1801), Ad-Daaraqutnee (1168), Al-Haakim (1/232), and Adh-Dhahabee agreed, Al-Baihaqee (Al-Kubraa, 2/46; Mukhtasar-ul-Khilaafiyaat, 2/44), Ibn `Abdil-Barr (Al-Insaaf, p.249, 254), Al-Khateeb (C.f. Al-Khulaasah, 1/371; Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/180), An-Nawawee (Al-Khulaasah, 1/369, 370), Al-Ghassaanee (Takhreej-ul-Ahaadeeth-id-Di`aaf, 226), Adh-Dhahabee (At-Tanqeeh, 1/147 D. Watan ed., 1/239 M. Baaz ed.), Ibn Hajar (1/446), As-Suyootee (Al-Azhaar-ul-Mutanaathirah, p.93-94; Tadreeb-ur-Raawee, 1/419), Az-Zabeedee (Laqt-ul-La’aali’, p.185-191), As-Sabbaan (C.f. Nazm-ul-Mutanaathir, p.89), An-Naymawee (Aathaar-us-Sunan, 1/73), Hammaad Al-Ansaaree (Ta`leeq-ul-Anwaat, p.50), Al-Waadi`ee (As-Saheeh-ul-Musnad, 1404), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan, 1797, 1801; Musnad Ahmad, 10449; Sunan-ud-Daaraqutnee, 1168), Al-Huwainee (Ghawth-ul-Makdood, 184), Az-Zuhairee (Buloogh-ul-Maraam, 279), Al-Hilaalee (Takhreej-ul-Muharrar, 231), `Awwaad Ar-Ruwaithee (Makhtulifa fee Raf`ihee wa Waqfih, 116) and others.
And its authenticity was alluded to by Al-Ghumaaree (Al-Hidaayah, 3/31-32).
Anas (radiyallaahu `anhu) said: “Mu`aawiyah (radiyallaahu `anhu) prayed Fajr Salaah in Madeenah, so he recited audibly and recited “Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem” for Soorah Al-Faatihah but did not do so for the Soorah after it, and he did not say “Allaahu Akbar” when he went down for prostration until he completed the Salaah. So when he made Tasleem, the Muhaajiroon (radiyallaahu `anhum) who heard all that called on him:
“O Mu`aawiyah! Did you steal from the Salaah or did you forget?!” So when he prayed after that he recited “Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem” for the Soorah after Al-Faatihah, and said “Allaahu Akbar” when he went down into prostration.”
Authenticated by Ash-Shaafi`ee (As-Sunan, 1/154), Al-Haakim (1/233), An-Nawawee (Al-Khulaasah, 1/369, 372), Ibn Hajar (1/444), Ahmad Shaakir (Sunan-ut-Tirmidhee, 2/16-17), Al-Huwainee (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/422) and Zakariyyaa Al-Baakistaanee (Aathaar-us-Sahaabah, 1/214).
Ad-Daaraqutnee said: All of its narrators are reliable, (As-Sunan, 1/647, Al-Ma`rifah ed.), and its authenticity was alluded to by al-Baihaqee (C.f. Muwaafaqat-ul-Khubr-il-Khabar, 1/49), Al-Ghassaanee (Takhreej-ul-Ahaadeeth-id-Di`aaf, 221) and Ibn Katheer (At-Tafseer, 1/179, 181).
Reciting the Basmalah audibly is also authentically narrated from:
- `Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (radiyallaahu `anhu).
Authenticated by Ibn Katheer (Al-Ahkaam-ul-Kubraa, Qaaf 185/Baa’, c.f. Al-Insaaf, p.271) and Zakariyyaa Al-Baakistaanee (Aathaar-us-Sahaabah, 1/211).
- `Abdullaah ibn `Umar (radiyallaahu `anhumaa).
Authenticated by `Awwaad Ar-Ruwaithee (Makhtulifa fee Raf`ihee wa Waqfih, 118 ff.). See also: Al-Insaaf (p.270, f.n.3).
- `Abdullaah ibn Az-Zubayr (radiyallaahu `anhumaa).
Authenticated by Ibn `Abdil-Haadee (Nasb-ur-Raayah, 1/357), Adh-Dhahabee (Mukhtasar-ul-Jahr bil-Basmalah, p.180) and Zakariyyaa Al-Baakistaanee (Aathaar-us-Sahaabah, 1/211).
Ibn Hajar (1/449) said: “Its narrators are reliable.”
