What is the ruling on reciting the Basmala aloud in prayer?

Question:
The first message in this episode is from one of our brother listeners, Ahmad Ali Naji Muhammad al-Sabah, from the Yemen Arab Republic. We presented some of our brother Ahmad’s questions in a previous episode, and in this episode he has about five questions remaining. In one of them, he asks: What is the ruling on reciting the Basmala aloud in prayer, and how do we respond to those who say that this is the madhhab of Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him)? Is it a verse in Surat al-Fatihah? And if it is not a verse, why is it numbered as number one in Surat al-Fatihah in the mushaf?

Answer:
The correct view is that the Basmala is not a verse of al-Fatihah, nor of any other surah, but rather it is an independent verse that Allah revealed as a separator between the surahs, a sign that the surah before it has ended and that the one after it is a new surah. This is the correct view according to the scholars. Numbering it as the first verse in some mushafs is an error and not correct. The correct view is that it is not part of al-Fatihah, but rather the first of al-Fatihah is This is the first verse, the second, the third, the fourth, is the fifth, this is the sixth, is the seventh. As for the Basmala, it is an independent verse that separates the surahs; it is not part of al-Fatihah, nor of any other surah, according to the most correct of the scholars’ opinions.
However, it is part of a verse from Surat al-Naml, from the saying of Allah the Exalted: [al-Naml: 30]. So it is part of a verse from Surat al-Naml, but it is an independent verse that Allah revealed as a separator between the surahs. It is not a verse of al-Fatihah, nor a verse of any other surah, but it is part of a verse from Surat al-Naml. This is the correct view according to the scholars. Yes.

The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : As for reciting aloud, as for reciting it aloud, the better course is not to recite it aloud; because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he did not recite it aloud. It is established in the two Sahihs from the hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: And Abu Bakr and Umar would begin the recitation with "All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds" And in the narration of the people of the Sunan: .
So the point is: they begin with the Hamdalah [al-Fatihah: 2] This indicates that they were reciting it quietly, meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), al-Siddiq, and Umar were reciting the Basmala quietly. And it has come from the route of Abu Hurayrah what indicates that it may be recited aloud; because he (may Allah be pleased with him) recited the Basmala aloud, so when he finished praying he said: Some people have used this as an argument that it is recited aloud, but it is not a hadith explicit in that. Even if the explicit statement were established, it would be understood to mean that it was done at some times, and the majority of the time the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not recite it aloud; this reconciles the narrations.
So the best and the better course is not to recite it aloud, except if a person does it at some times, reciting it aloud so that people know that he has recited it, and so that people know that it is prescribed. And a person recites it quietly between himself and his Lord. This is good. Yes.

The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. Our brother asks: How do we respond to those who say that this is the madhhab of Imam al-Shafi'i?

The Shaykh : This requires reviewing the texts of al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him). Perhaps al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him), if it is established from him that he said that, followed the narration of Abu Hurayrah when he recited and recited aloud, and when he finished the prayer he said: "I am the most like you in prayer to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." The apparent meaning of this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited it aloud; because Abu Hurayrah recited it aloud and said: "I am the most like you in prayer to the Messenger of Allah." So reciting it aloud is permissible, but the better course is not to recite it aloud.

The presenter : May Allah bless you! So: does this not require that there be disagreement among the Muslims?

The Shaykh : It is not befitting in this dispute; the matter should be light in it. The best is to seek the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) by not reciting it aloud. And if some people recite it aloud at some times because of the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, or for the sake of teaching, or to let people know that it is recited; then there is no harm in it. And some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them and grant them satisfaction) recited it aloud. Yes.

The presenter : Good, good, may Allah reward you with good!