QUESTION:
What is the Mas’ala regarding reading Dua loudly or silently, if one is the Imaam? Which manner is preferred?
ANSWER:
Dua after the Fardh Salaah should be made silently by the Imaam and Muqtadis. Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan:
ادعوا ربكم تضرعا وخفية
Call unto your Rabb in humility and in secrecy.
اذ نادى ربه نداء خفيا
Remember the time when he (Zakariyya n) secretly (silently) made Dua.
The manner in which Dua should be made has been explained in the above verses (i.e. silently). Those Fardh Salaah after which there is a Sunnat-e-Muakkadah, the Dua should be kept short, as we have learnt from the practice of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Yes, after the Fajr and Asr Salaah, a longer Dua can be made, as these two Salaah are not followed by any optional prayers.
Hadrat Hassan Basri Rahimahullah states that silent Duas are seventy times superior to loud Dua. Similarly, Surah Fateha which is recited in our five daily Salaah is a Dua at the end of which we say ‘Ameen’. According to the Hanafi Madhab, the “Ameen” is uttered softly, which is yet another indication that Dua should be made in a soft tone.
Ulama explain that loud Dua is also acceptable at times as understood from the Quraan. In Surah Yunus Allah Ta’ala mentions that the Dua of Moosa Alaihis Salaam and Haroun Alaihis Salaam was certainly accepted, whereas Moosa Alaihis Salaam made Dua and Haroun Alaihis Salaam said ‘Ameen’ to the Dua of Moosa Alaihis Salaam. In order for Haroun Alaihis Salaam to say Ameen, the Dua had to be made audibly by Moosa Alaihis Salaam. This indicates that Dua can be made audibly on certain occasions as well, but silent Dua is superior.
قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا فَاسْتَقِيمَا وَلاَ تَتَّبِعَآنِّ سَبِيلَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
He (Allah) said, “The prayer that the two of you have made has been accepted. So, remain upright (steadfast on your mission) and never follow the path of those without knowledge.”
In conclusion, both loud and silent Dua are acceptable, but it is superior to engage in silent Dua.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
Date: 21 Dhul Qadah 1445 / 30 May 2024
