The Ameen Following the Imam: Is It to Be Said Aloud? And What Are the Times of Prohibition?
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The questioner : Is the Ameen following the Imam to be said aloud? And what are the times of prohibition?
The Shaykh : The Ameen behind the imam is to be said aloud for men, but women do not raise their voices with it, because they are commanded to be modest and to keep their voices from being heard. This is indicated by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan ad-Darimi 2:175.
However, let it be known that saying the Ameen aloud is not obligatory, but is only recommended. So if a person says "Ameen" quietly, he is not considered to have sinned...
The questioner : The times of prohibition?
The Shaykh : As for the times of prohibition, they are five in detail and three in summary:
As for the summary, they are from the Fajr prayer until the sun rises the height of a spear, and when the sun is standing until it declines, and from the 'Asr prayer until sunset.
As for the detail, we say: from the Fajr prayer until the sun rises, and from the sun rising until it rises the height of a spear, and when it is standing, meaning when it declines, when its course lowers until it declines, and after the 'Asr prayer until the sun approaches sunset by the length of a spear, and when it approaches by the length of a spear until it sets. These are five times.
In these times, it is not permissible to perform the absolute voluntary prayer, which is the voluntary prayer that one performs solely to offer it as a voluntary act. As for the voluntary prayer that has a cause, the stronger position is that it is prescribed in the times of prohibition. For example, if a man enters the mosque during the 'Asr time to sit, he does not sit until he prays two rak'ahs. And if he performs wudu' in the times of prohibition, meaning after the 'Asr prayer, he may pray two rak'ahs as the sunnah of wudu'.
As for the istikhara, meaning the prayer of istikhara, if it is for a matter that will be resolved before the time of prohibition ends, there is no harm in a person performing istikhara during the time of prohibition. But if the matter is broad and he can perform istikhara after the time of prohibition ends, let him delay the prayer of istikhara until the time of prohibition ends.
The important point is that the times of prohibition are now five in detail and three in summary, and that it is not permissible in them to perform the absolute voluntary prayer that has no cause. As for the voluntary prayer that has a cause, there is no harm. Likewise, the obligatory prayers may be prayed in the times of prohibition, such as if a person forgets a prayer and does not remember it except in the time of prohibition, it is permissible for him to make up this prayer in the time of prohibition.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The Ameen behind the imam is to be said aloud for men, but women do not raise their voices with it, because they are commanded to be modest and to keep their voices from being heard. This is indicated by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
If something happens to you in your prayer, let the men say Subhan Allah and let the women clap.
إذا نابكم شيء في صلاتكم فليسبح الرجال ولتصفق النساءHowever, let it be known that saying the Ameen aloud is not obligatory, but is only recommended. So if a person says "Ameen" quietly, he is not considered to have sinned...
The questioner : The times of prohibition?
The Shaykh : As for the times of prohibition, they are five in detail and three in summary:
As for the summary, they are from the Fajr prayer until the sun rises the height of a spear, and when the sun is standing until it declines, and from the 'Asr prayer until sunset.
As for the detail, we say: from the Fajr prayer until the sun rises, and from the sun rising until it rises the height of a spear, and when it is standing, meaning when it declines, when its course lowers until it declines, and after the 'Asr prayer until the sun approaches sunset by the length of a spear, and when it approaches by the length of a spear until it sets. These are five times.
In these times, it is not permissible to perform the absolute voluntary prayer, which is the voluntary prayer that one performs solely to offer it as a voluntary act. As for the voluntary prayer that has a cause, the stronger position is that it is prescribed in the times of prohibition. For example, if a man enters the mosque during the 'Asr time to sit, he does not sit until he prays two rak'ahs. And if he performs wudu' in the times of prohibition, meaning after the 'Asr prayer, he may pray two rak'ahs as the sunnah of wudu'.
As for the istikhara, meaning the prayer of istikhara, if it is for a matter that will be resolved before the time of prohibition ends, there is no harm in a person performing istikhara during the time of prohibition. But if the matter is broad and he can perform istikhara after the time of prohibition ends, let him delay the prayer of istikhara until the time of prohibition ends.
The important point is that the times of prohibition are now five in detail and three in summary, and that it is not permissible in them to perform the absolute voluntary prayer that has no cause. As for the voluntary prayer that has a cause, there is no harm. Likewise, the obligatory prayers may be prayed in the times of prohibition, such as if a person forgets a prayer and does not remember it except in the time of prohibition, it is permissible for him to make up this prayer in the time of prohibition.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.