Basic Prayer Surah: Al-Isra (110)

The key verse: "Do not be loud in your prayer nor be quiet in it — seek a way between that." (Al-Isra 17:110)

Interpretation: Ibn Abbas said: revealed about the Prophet prayer — he was reciting loudly and disturbing the polytheists, so he was instructed not to be excessively loud or excessively quiet, but to take the middle way. Some said it refers to supplication. Al-Tabari reconciled: it covers both prayer and supplication.

Derived rulings:

1. Audible obligatory prayers: Fajr, Maghrib, Isha — the imam recites audibly (established by mutawatir sunnah).
2. Silent obligatory prayers: Dhuhr and Asr — the sunnah is to recite quietly.
3. Voluntary prayer by day: Quiet recitation is sunnah — by night: audible recitation is recommended.
4. The follower (mamum): Always recites quietly — even in audible prayers — except for the "Amin."

The minimum for quiet recitation: One must at least hear oneself (majority view) — for what is not heard is not considered recitation.

Source: Al-Tabari, Tafsir (15/179); Al-Mughni (1/348); Al-Nawawi, Al-Majmu (3/375); Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari (2/239)

Tags: الجهر والإسرارالصلاةالإسراءفقه الصلاة