Saying ‘Ameen’

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “When the Imam says: ‘Ghair-il-Maghdubi ‘Alaihim Walad-Dhallin [not the path of those who earn Your Anger, nor the path of those who went astray (Qur’an 1:7)]’, then you must say, ‘Ameen’, for if one’s utterance of ‘Ameen’ coincides with that of the angels, then his past sins will be forgiven.”

[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Commentary:

We benefit from the above Hadith that the Saying of “Ameen” is Sunnah for every worshipper when he finishes reciting Surat al-Fatiha.

Imam Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Majmoo’, 3/371:

Saying “Ameen” is Sunnah for every worshipper after al-Fatiha, whether he is leading the prayer or is following an imam, or praying alone, for men, women and children, whether they are praying standing up, sitting down or lying down (i.e., if they have an excuse), whether they are praying an obligatory prayer or a naafil prayer, whether the prayer is one in which Qur’an is recited silently or out loud. There is no difference of opinion concerning this among any of our companions.

Imam Al-Nawawi also said in al-Majmoo’ (3/390):

With regard to women, most of our companions said that if she is praying on her own, or in the presence of other women or men who are her mahrams, she may recite out loud, whether she is leading other women in prayer or praying alone. But if she is praying in the presence of non-mahram men she should recite silently… This is our opinion… al-Qaadi Abu al-Tayyib said: The ruling on saying Allahu akbar in prayers where Qur’an is recited out loud and prayers where it is recited silently is the same as the ruling on reciting Qur’an.

The ruling on saying Ameen in prayers where Qur’an is recited out loud and prayers where it is recited silently is the same as the ruling on reciting Qur’an.

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (2/162):

It is Sunnah for the imam and the members of the congregation to say it (Ameen) out loud when Qur’an is recited out loud, and to say it silently in prayers where Qur’an is recited silently.

Imam Al-Nawawi also said in al-Majmoo’, 3/371:

If the prayer is one in which Qur’an is recited silently, then the imam and others should say Ameen silently, following the manner of recitation. If it is a prayer in which Qur’an is recited out loud, it is mustahabb for the members of the congregation to say Ameen out loud. There is no difference of opinion on this point.

And Allah knows best!