The Pronunciation and Writing of the Basmala and the Hamdala: Out Loud and in Secret

Question:
The Shaykh says: Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in *I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in* regarding the difference between pronunciation and writing with respect to the Basmala. He said that in the context of the *Hudud* (fixed punishments) and speech, innovating in the Hamdala is an innovation, and writing the Basmala is an innovation. Is there evidence for this statement?

Answer:
No, it means that one may recite the Basmala aloud, or one may recite it aloud and pronounce it openly, or one may recite it in secret. As for omitting the Basmala at the beginning of the recitation, this is not prescribed, and it constitutes a deficiency by leaving off a Sunnah. However, sometimes the Basmala is pronounced aloud, and sometimes it is pronounced in secret. For example, in the prayer, it is pronounced in secret. Likewise, in the Friday sermon, it is pronounced in secret. So in certain places, it is pronounced in secret; this does not mean that it is omitted, but rather that it is pronounced in secret. If one intends to recite Surat al-Fatihah in the prayer, he pronounces it in secret. If he intends to recite a surah after al-Fatihah, he pronounces it in secret at the beginning of every surah; he does not omit it.