Is it obligatory for the imam in the middle tashahhud to indicate to the ma'mums by lowering his voice when he says Allahu Akbar, and likewise in the final tashahhud, because some imams in the mosques keep the takbirs on a single tone?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Is it obligatory for the imam in the middle tashahhud to indicate to the ma'mums by lowering his voice when he says Allahu Akbar, and likewise in the final tashahhud, because some imams in the mosques keep the takbirs on a single tone?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. What appears to me from the Sunnah is that the takbirs of transition are on a single tone, with no difference between the takbir for ruku', sujud, standing, and sitting. This is because those who described the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not mention a difference between the takbirs. And if the difference is not mentioned, the original state is that they are identical. However, some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) recommended that the takbir for descending into sujud from standing be long, and likewise the takbir for rising from sujud to standing be long. He said: "Because of the long interval between standing and sujud." But there is a point of consideration regarding this reasoning, because it is not obligatory for a person to begin [the takbir] when he starts moving and not end it until he arrives. Rather, the important thing is that the takbirs occur during the transition from one pillar to another. For example, if one intends to go into sujud from standing, it is not obligatory to begin the takbir when he descends into sujud and end it when he reaches sujud. This is not obligatory. The obligatory thing is that the takbir be between his descent into sujud and his arrival at sujud. This is the obligation. Some scholars permitted the takbir to be advanced if it ends during the descent, and likewise to be delayed if it begins during the descent. He said: "Because it is difficult to ensure it is between the two pillars." In any case, the closest to the Sunnah is that the takbirs be on a single tone without difference. This has two benefits. The first benefit is that it is the closest to following the Sunnah. The second benefit is that the ma'mums pay more attention, because no ma'mum likes to see someone standing while the people are sitting, or sitting while the people are standing. If the imam differentiates in the takbirs, the ma'mum becomes like a machine that moves according to the tones of this takbir. But if it is on a single tone, people become more alert and attentive so that no one makes a mistake before this congregation. You will find him striving to follow the imam and count the rak'ahs. These are two benefits of keeping the takbirs on a single tone. Some of the general public get angry if the imam does not differentiate between the takbirs and keeps them on a single tone. But the believer, when the truth becomes clear to him, does not get angry about it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. What appears to me from the Sunnah is that the takbirs of transition are on a single tone, with no difference between the takbir for ruku', sujud, standing, and sitting. This is because those who described the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not mention a difference between the takbirs. And if the difference is not mentioned, the original state is that they are identical. However, some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) recommended that the takbir for descending into sujud from standing be long, and likewise the takbir for rising from sujud to standing be long. He said: "Because of the long interval between standing and sujud." But there is a point of consideration regarding this reasoning, because it is not obligatory for a person to begin [the takbir] when he starts moving and not end it until he arrives. Rather, the important thing is that the takbirs occur during the transition from one pillar to another. For example, if one intends to go into sujud from standing, it is not obligatory to begin the takbir when he descends into sujud and end it when he reaches sujud. This is not obligatory. The obligatory thing is that the takbir be between his descent into sujud and his arrival at sujud. This is the obligation. Some scholars permitted the takbir to be advanced if it ends during the descent, and likewise to be delayed if it begins during the descent. He said: "Because it is difficult to ensure it is between the two pillars." In any case, the closest to the Sunnah is that the takbirs be on a single tone without difference. This has two benefits. The first benefit is that it is the closest to following the Sunnah. The second benefit is that the ma'mums pay more attention, because no ma'mum likes to see someone standing while the people are sitting, or sitting while the people are standing. If the imam differentiates in the takbirs, the ma'mum becomes like a machine that moves according to the tones of this takbir. But if it is on a single tone, people become more alert and attentive so that no one makes a mistake before this congregation. You will find him striving to follow the imam and count the rak'ahs. These are two benefits of keeping the takbirs on a single tone. Some of the general public get angry if the imam does not differentiate between the takbirs and keeps them on a single tone. But the believer, when the truth becomes clear to him, does not get angry about it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.