More On The Question of Reciting Qur’an Out Loud In The Mosque

Answered by Ustadh Abdus Shakur Brooks

In al-U’tbiyyah (also known as al-Mustakhrajah) which is one of the mother books of the Maliki madhab by Muhammad al-Utbiyi al-Qurtubi [255 A.H ] narrates:

“Malik said: Umar Ibn al-Kattab said “ In our mosque voices are not to be raised!”

In the commentary of al-Utbiyyah called al-Biyan wa al-Tahsil, Ibn Rushd [520 A.H; Cordoba] who is one of leading mujtahids in fatwa in the Maliki madhab, comments on this point saying:

“Umar’s saying “In our mosque voices are not to be raised” is not a proof that it is permissible to do so in other mosques. And that is because the meaning of his saying is “ in our mosque – the one that I go to – voices are not to be raised in it and that is because I prohibit it”. So what he means is that every governor should do the same at the mosque they attend. The proof of what is mentioned is what is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him ) “ Keep away from your mosques: your children, you mentally impaired , your disputes, your commerce , your withdrawing of swords, your raising of voices, and the execution of al-hudud .”

Then Ibn Rushd latter on continues to comment saying:

“Raising the voice in the mosque is disliked [makrooh] even in sessions of knowledge. Ibn Habib said : I once saw the messenger of the governor of Medinah standing beside Ibn Majisun [ who was one of the leading students of Malik amongst the Medinites] at his congregation and when he [Ibn Majisun] and those of his congregation became loud during their congregation of knowledge, he [the messenger ] said: Oh Son of Mirwan [ referring to Ibn Majisun] lower you voice and order your congregation to lower their voices!”

Al-Hattab (954 A.H) in his famous commentary of Mukhtasar Khalil called Muwahib al-Jalil comments on the rule concerning the dislike of reading the Qur’an out loud in the mosque saying:

” It is mentioned in al-Madkhal [of Ibn al-Hajj] : Malik disliked [makrooh] reciting Qur’an out loud in the mosque. Then he [Ibn Hajj] said “The mosque was built for prayer and the recitation of Qur’an is secondary to it, under the condition that it does not disturb people’s prayer. If it disturbs the people then it is prohibited”. Then he [Ibn Hajj] said “ There is no difference of opinion amongst anyone of the predecessors [like Imam Malik’s students] concerning raising the voice during recitation, or thikr, in the mosque while people are praying which causes distraction. Then he said it is not allowed for anyone to claim that recitation or thikr done out loud or in congregation is permissible.”

Al-Hattab also comments on the rule concerning the dislike of reading the Qur’an in union saying:

“He [Ibn Hajj] said in his Madkhal “ None of Malik’s sayings/opinions differ concerning reading as a group [in union] or thikr as a group is a bid’ah disliked [makrooh].”

This Article is an edition to :

Q:In the Magrib some saintly people get together to recite the Qur’an in unification in the mosque. What is the Maliki position regarding this?

Source : al-faqih.com