Should a Woman Say “Amin” Aloud When Praying in Congregation?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

When can a woman say “Amin” aloud? Does this differ if she is alone, with mahram men, or in a congregation where non-mahram men might hear her?

Answer

Thank you for your question. Yes, the ruling differs for a woman according to who can hear her.

For men and women, it is recommended that the one praying alone recite aloud during the prayer in which the Quran is recited aloud and quietly during quiet prayers.

However, if non-Mahram men are present, a woman shouldn’t recite aloud. If she did, her prayer is valid, but it is disliked for her to do so. If she was praying alone, or in the presence of her Mahrams, or with a group of women, then it is recommended that she recites out loud, but lower than men.

Imam Nawawi said, “According to our fellow scholars, it is recommended that she recites aloud if she was praying alone, or with a group of women, or in the presence of her Mahrams, whether she was leading women in prayer or was praying alone. But, if there are non-Mahram men, then she should recite quietly.” [Nawawi, Majmu‘, 3/390].

As for her saying “Amin” out loud, it takes the same ruling of reciting out loud mentioned above. If non-Mahrams are present, she should say it silently, but if she is praying alone, with a group of women, or in the presence of her Mahram men, then she is permitted to say it aloud. [Bujayrimi, Hashiyat al-Bujayrimi ‘ala al-Khatib, 2/29].

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.