Question 012: Zaid used to offer his prayers in his heart (i.e. he didn’t utter the words (Jahr)). Neither his elders nor his teacher told him the correct way of offering the prayers (i.e. afternoon prayers should be recited in such a way so that one can at least hear his words and morning and evening prayers must be recited loudly). He came to know about these rulings after three or four years since he became a follower (muqallid). So what is the ruling for his earlier prayers in which he didn’t utter (some) words?

Answer 012: According to all maraja’, those prayers that been offered without observing Jahr (loudly) and Ikhfat (quietly) would be considered as valid, if you didn’t know the rules in regards to recite surah al-fatiha and Ikhlas loudly in subh (morning), maghrib (evening), aid isha ‘ prayers or quietly in zuhr and asr prayers.

From now on, you should observe and learn Islamic rules related to the above mentioned issue.

Note:  It is not obligatory to express Intention (Niyyat) loudly, as it is something relating to the heart, as it is not obligatory to express it in the heart or speak in the imagination or present it in the mind, so that the person must only bring it into his thinking and the treasure of thought.

If a person raises his voice loudly at the time of Dhikr or recitation (of Surahs) in order to let the other learn it; it shall not be nullified when the basic purpose of both had been obedience (to Allah’s command).

It is obligatory to offer Zuhr and Asr prayers quietly except reciting Bismillah It is obligatory for men to offer the morning, Maghrib and Isha prayers loudly (Jahr) so that if a person does the reverse of it deliberately his prayer shall be void. However a person who does so due to forgetfulness or rather generally a person who does so inadvertently or one who is ignorant of the rule at all and unaware of asking about it, is excused, and rather such person shall not be required to repeat the recitation (in its proper form, slowly or loudly) in case mean while the excuse is removed.

As regards one who knows the rule briefly but does not know its right place of application or one who forgets it or one who is ignorant of the rule at all but who is aware that he must ask about it would be more cautious for him to offer prayers gain although according to the stronger opinion their prayer shall be valid if they have had intention of closeness to Allah in such cases.

Women are not allowed to offer prayers loudly. Rather in case there is no stranger there they may adopt a course between quiet and loud recitation but it is obligatory on them to adopt silence where it is so in case of men and they are also excused where men have been excused.

It is recommended for men to recite Bismillah loudly with Surat al Hamd (Chapter 1 of the Quran) and the other Surah in Zuhr and Asr prayers in the same way as it is recommended for them to recite loudly in Zuhr prayer on Friday, but they should not give up caution by reciting it quietly.

The basis for reciting quietly or loudly is the expression of the voice of a person or otherwise, and not its hearing or otherwise by the person beside him.

It is not permissible to be inordinately loud while reciting loudly as shouting, in the same way as it is not permissible to be so quiet that he may not hear himself when there is no impediment.

It is recommended to recite Qunut in the daily obligatory prayers, and it is emphasized that it should be recited loudly; rather it is more cautious not to avoid it. Its place is before the Ruku’ in the second Rak’at after having finished the recitation of the Sürahs (of the Quran). If a person forgets (to recite before kneeling down in the second Rak’at), he may recite it after raising the head from the Ruku’, and then he may perform prostration.

It is recommended in a Salat al-Ayat to recite loudly regardless whether it is offered at night or in the day, including even the prayer offered for solar eclipse, as well as the Takbir every time the person kneels to perform the Ruku’ or rises from it except when he rises from the fifth and tenth Ruku’s, when he says “Sami’ Allàhu liman hamidah” (who has been praised has heard), and then performs prostration.[1]

[1] . Tawzih al-Masael of maraja (with annotation of Imam Khomeini), Vol. 1, Pgs. 549, 550, 610, 550.