How is qira’ah fulfilled in the noon and afternoon prayers? Are takbirs and tasbihat uttered silently or aloud?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is wajib to read silently in the noon and afternoon prayers whether they are performed individually or in congregation. A person who is performing them individually or the imam reads al-Fatiha and an additional chapter with a voice that he himself can hear.

It is also wajib to read silently in the nafilah prayers that are performed during the daytime. It is wajib to read aloud in all rak’ahs of the morning, Friday, eid, tarawih and witr prayers and in the first two rak’ahs of the evening and night prayers that are performed in congregation. It is wajib to read silently in the third rak’ah of the evening prayer and in the last two rak’ahs of the night prayer.

However, a person who is performing the morning, evening and the night prayer individually can read aloud or silently. The wisdom behind the fact that qira’ah is silent in the prayers that are performed during the daytime and aloud in the prayers that are performed at night and in Friday and eid prayers is explained as follows in tafsir books:  

In the first years of calling people to Islam, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) conducted the duty of proclaiming Islam secretly. When he led prayers to the Companions, he used to read the Quran aloud. When the polytheists heard the qira’ah of the Prophet, they would read poems and utter the words that they made up. They even insulted and made fun of the Prophet. The following verse was sent down in order to prevent the polytheists from the ugly deeds and to save Muslims from being disturbed:

“Neither speak thy Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between.” (al-Isra, 17/110)

The Prophet was asked not to read aloud in the verse so that the polytheists would not hear him. (Imam az-Zamakhshari, Tafsirul-Kashshaf, III/196, Cairo: Darul-Mushaf, 1397-1977) After that, the Prophet (pbuh) read silently in the noon and afternoon prayers so as not to be disturbed by the polytheists. The evening prayer time was their dinner time and the night and morning prayer times were their sleeping time; therefore, he read aloud in these prayers. Friday and eid prayers were rendered fard and wajib after the Migration and the polytheists could not disturb them anymore; therefore, the qira’ah in these prayers was aloud. (Mehmed Paksu, İbadet Hayatımız)

What is the decree about uttering takbirs and tasbihat aloud in prayer? In what cases are they said aloud and in what cases silently?

If takbirs and similar dhikr words in prayers are wajib, the imam says them aloud. A person who is performing a prayer individually says them with a voice that he himself can hear. Takbirs of iftitah and eid are said aloud since they are wajib. The takbirs between parts of the prayer are sunnah; they are said aloud by the imam but a person who is performing a prayer individually says them with a voice that he himself can hear.  

Takbir of qunut is wajib; it is said aloud when witr prayer is performed in congregation and with a low voice when it is performed individually. However, the writer of al-Hidayah holds the view that takbir of qunut is not said aloud even when witr prayer is performed in congregation. The remaining supplications and dhikrs like at-Tahiyyat, amin, salawat, duas and dhikrs in ruku and prostration are said silently. (Bahr ar-Raiq / Ibn Nujayra) (Celal Yıldırım, Kaynaklarıyla İslam Fıkhı, Uysal Kitabevi: 1/251)

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