When Should You Say Ameen in Salah?
Among the rulings of Salah, it is important to know that when a person finishes reciting
Surah al-Fatihah, saying “Ameen” upon its completion is the established practice of the Prophet (PBUH).
Wa’il ibn Hujr (RA) narrates:
When the Prophet (PBUH) recited “Walad-dallin,” he would say “Ameen” after it.
(Sunan Abi Dawud: 932, Jami’ al-Tirmidhi: 248)
Saying Ameen is therefore the practice of the Prophet (PBUH). Whenever Surah al-Fatihah
is completed, Ameen should be said in every case.
Should Ameen Be Said Silently or Loudly?
The next point to keep in mind is regarding praying behind the Imam.
In prayers where the Imam recites aloud, known as Jahri prayers, when the
Imam says “Walad-dallin,” those behind him should say Ameen in a loud voice.
In the same narration of Wa’il ibn Hujr (RA), the words are:
“وَرَفَعَ بِهَا صَوْتَهُ”
Wa rafa’a biha sawtah.
And he (the Prophet, PBUH) raised his voice with it (i.e., said Ameen aloud).
(Sunan Abi Dawud: 932)
Similarly, Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates:
When the Prophet (PBUH) recited “Ghayril-maghdubi ‘alayhim walad-dallin,” he would say Ameen.
His voice would be heard by those in the first row, and then the entire mosque would echo with it.
(Sunan Abi Dawud: 934, Sunan Ibn Majah: 853)
If a person is praying alone, they should say Ameen softly, just as they are reciting
Surah al-Fatihah.
However, when praying behind the Imam in a prayer where the Imam is reciting aloud, saying Ameen together with the Imam after “Walad-dallin” is the established practice
of the Prophet (PBUH).
Why Is It Important to Say Ameen With the Imam?
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
When the reciter (Imam) says Ameen aloud, you should also say Ameen.
For at that moment, the angels also say Ameen. Whoever’s Ameen coincides with the Ameen of the angels, all his previous sins will be forgiven.
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 780, Sahih Muslim: 410)
The purpose of saying Ameen is to coincide with the angels. Therefore, both the Imam and the person praying behind him (Muqtadi) should say Ameen together, simultaneously.
- Ameen should not be started before the Imam.
- Saying it slightly after the Imam is acceptable.
- However, the best practice, in order to attain the virtue of coinciding with the angels, is for the Imam and the Muqtadi to say Ameen at the exact same time.
This is the meaning that emerges from the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH).
