Almuhtada.org – The Dzuhur and Asr prayers are different from the other three obligatory prayers. During the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, the person praying will not hear the imam read Surah Al-Fatihah aloud followed by other short surahs in the first two rak’ahs.
Both prayers are recited quietly and can only be heard by the person doing them. The way the imam reads the surah silently during the Dhuhr and Asr prayers is not without basis.
Evidence Based on Silent Dhuhr and Asr Prayers
The reason the imam prays Dhuhr and Asr silently is because it is based on what the Prophet Muhammad taught at that time. This is as in the following hadith, Rasulullah SAW said:
صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي
Meaning:
“Pray as you see me pray” (HR Bukhari and Muslim)
Besides, the recommendation to lower the recitation of prayer has also been stated from the cause of the revelation or asbabun nuzul of Surah Al-Isra verse 110.
In the book Hakekat Tasawuf by Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Isa, it is explained that it was revealed in Surah Al-Isra verse 110 when the Prophet Muhammad SAW raised his voice when reading the Qur’an until it was heard by the polytheists, then they cursed the Qur’an. Then the Prophet Muhammad SAW was ordered by Allah SWT not to raise his prayer reading, but also not to lower it.
قُلِ ادْعُوا اللّٰهَ اَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمٰنَۗ اَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوْا فَلَهُ الْاَسْمَاۤءُ الْحُسْنٰىۚ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ سَبِيْلًا
Meaning:
“Say (Prophet Muhammad), “Call upon ‘Allah’ or call upon ‘Ar-Raḥmān’! Whichever name you call upon, (it is good) for He has the best names (Asmaul Husna). Do not make your prayer loud and do not make it low. Try to walk the middle path between them!” (QS Al-Isra: 110).
Why the Imam of the Dhuhr and ‘Asr Prayers is silent
Quoting from the book 140 Fiqh Issues Concerning reading the Qur’an by Cece Abdulwaly, Abu Bakr ad-Dimyathi in I’anah ath-Thalibin ‘ala Hall Alfazh Fath al-Mu’in suggests that the reason why the imam of the Dhuhr and Asr prayers is recommended to be silent or low, namely because the afternoon is the time when people are doing their busyness so it is difficult to focus on prayer.
While at night the recitation of prayer is loud because night time is the right time to be alone and become the right time to talk so it is recommended to read aloud so that someone can feel the pleasure of communing with Allah.
In the same way, the Fajr prayer is equated with the night prayer because it is not the time for people to be busy.
While the reason why the jahr (loud) reading is only in the first two rak’ahs is because usually the spirit of the person who is praying is in the first two rak’ahs.
From other sources, Shaykh Ali Ahmad Jurjawi in the book Indahnya Shariat Islam explains the wisdom and secrets of reading Al-Fatihah during prayer, that humans praise and thank Allah SWT by honoring Him.
During the day, human ears are filled with noise and various sounds that often disturb hearing so that the recitation of prayers during the day is softened (sirr) so that its beauty is not mixed with the noise.
While the night becomes a place of silence and peace so that the imam filters the recitation of prayer because it does not mix with noise and other sounds.
Still with the same source, in the book of Al-Bada’i it is mentioned, “The Imam reads loudly (jahr) so that the people can meditate and benefit from it so that the Imam’s reading is as if it were their own reading. During the day, people perform congregational prayers in between their busy schedules so that these conditions make it difficult for them to meditate on the meaning of the verse.”
That is the explanation of why the imam of the Dhuhr and Asr prayers is silent. Hopefully this article can increase knowledge and understanding for Muslims. [] Fahdina Dean
