4/13. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 399a — Bismillah in Prayer
The Proof Of Those Who Say That The Basmalah Should Not Be Recited Aloud
Hadith About Bismillah Recitation in Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 399a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 399a
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ غُنْدَرٍ، قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ فَلَمْ أَسْمَعْ أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ يَقْرَأُ { بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ} .
Anas Narrated from:
I observed prayer along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and with Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with all of them), but I never heard any one of them reciting Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim loudly.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 399aIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 52USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 786
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 399a
This hadith about Bismillah in prayer is based on what Anas personally observed. He prayed with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and with Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, and he said that he did not hear any of them reciting Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim loudly. The report is simple and direct. It does not discuss every detail of every prayer, nor does it give a long debate. It records what Anas heard while praying with them. For people searching for Bismillah recitation hadith, this narration is often used because it speaks clearly about audible recitation. The main lesson is to value reported practice and to avoid adding claims beyond what the text says.
What we learn from this hadith
- Anas reported what he personally heard during prayer.
- The narration focuses on not hearing Bismillah recited loudly.
- Prayer practice is learned through careful observation of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his companions.
- The text should be read as a report of audible recitation, not as a wider claim beyond its wording.
