[Q 269] Performing Dhikr in Noisy Environments: Islamic Perspective

Question

When doing dhikr, does one have to be able to hear himself for it to be accepted, even in public where background noise is present?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

Dhikr of the tongue is such that there should be enough sound for the person himself to hear. However, Dhikr is not limited to this form; it can also be done in the heart, for which neither sound production nor even movement of the tongue is necessary.

Just as doing Dhikr in a loud voice is a source of reward, so is performing it in a low voice.

It is stated in the Holy Quran:

وَ اذْكُرْ رَّبَّكَ فِیْ نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَّ خِیْفَةً وَّ دُوْنَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَ الْاٰصَالِ وَ لَا تَكُنْ مِّنَ الْغٰفِلِیْنَ

Translation:
“And remember your Lord within your hearts; humbly and fearfully, and softly with your tongues (such that only you can hear yourselves); morning and evening, and do not be of the neglectful ones.”

(Al-A’raf, 205)

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated answer

Date: 2nd May 2024