4/13. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 399c — Opening Prayer
The Proof Of Those Who Say That The Basmalah Should Not Be Recited Aloud
Hadith on Opening Recitation and Bismillah in Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 399c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 399c
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ الرَّازِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، عَنْ عَبْدَةَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، كَانَ يَجْهَرُ بِهَؤُلاَءِ الْكَلِمَاتِ يَقُولُ سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ . وَعَنْ قَتَادَةَ أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ يُخْبِرُهُ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ فَكَانُوا يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ بِـ { الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ} لاَ يَذْكُرُونَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ فِي أَوَّلِ قِرَاءَةٍ وَلاَ فِي آخِرِهَا .
Abda Narrated from:
'Umar b. al-Khattab used to recite loudly these words: Subhanak Allahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuka [Glory to Thee,0 Allah, and Thine is the Praise, and Blessed is Thy Name. and Exalted is Thy Majesty. and there is no other object of worship beside Thee].Qatada informed in writing that Anas b. Malik had narrated to him: I observed prayer behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr and Umar and 'Uthman. They started (loud recitation) with: Al-hamdu lillahi Rabb al-'Alamin [All Praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds] and did not recite Bismillah ir- Rahman-ir-Rahim (loudly) at the beginning of the recitation or at the end of it.
[1] That is, to Al-Awzâ'î, who narrated the first part from 'Abdah.Reference : Sahih Muslim 399cIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 54USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 788
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 399c
This hadith gives two details connected to prayer recitation. First, it mentions that Umar used to recite the opening praise, Subhanak Allahumma wa bi hamdika, loudly. Then it reports from Anas that he prayed behind the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman. He said they would begin with Al-hamdu lillahi Rabb al-'Alamin and would not mention Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim loudly at the beginning or at the end of the recitation. For readers searching for a hadith about Bismillah in salah, the wording is focused on audible mention. It points to a remembered prayer practice, while keeping the teaching tied to what Anas reported hearing behind them.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report records what Anas heard while praying behind the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the caliphs.
- It says the audible opening was Al-hamdu lillahi Rabb al-'Alamin.
- The narration mentions Umar's loud opening praise separately.
- The text focuses on audible recitation and should not be stretched beyond that.
