The permissibility of the recitation of both loud & soft Zikr is proven with Shar'i proofs. Certainly, the recitation of soft Zikr is recommended in some conditions & similarly, the recitation of loud Zikr is recommended in others.
The quotations which state that loud Zikr is Makrooh or Haraam in fact refers to Jahr Mufrat (excessive loudness), or it is attributed to Zikr which is performed to "show off". The recitation of the loud Zikr is that Zikr which is read with a medium tone of voice.
Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran: "Then when you have completed the acts of Hajj, remember Allah as you used to remember your fathers". (Surah al-Baqarah: 200) Commentators of the Holy Quran say that in the era of ignorance, it was the practice of the Kufaar, that when they completed their Hajj, they would stand in front of the Ka'bah & praise their forefathers. In this Ayat, Allah Ta'ala says that they should mention Allah Ta'ala instead of mentioning their forefathers. Therefore, it is understandable that this Zikr, which is performed, has to be loud so that people will be able to listen to it.
Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dehlawi (alaihir rahmah) says: "Undoubtedly, loud Zikr is permissible. One of its proofs is the saying of Allah Ta'ala, "Remember Allah as you used to remember your forefathers". (Ash'at-ul-Lam'aat)
Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran: "Then, when you have finished your prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting & lying on your sides". (Surah an-Nisa: 103) Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhuma) says in the commentary of this Ayah: "One should make Allah's Zikr during the day & at night, in water & in the dry, when travelling & when at home, in poverty & in prosperity, in sickness & in health, with softness & with loudness". (Tafseeraat-e-Ahmadia; Ihya-ul-Uloom)
Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran: "Remember Me, I shall remember you". (Surah al-Baqarah: 152) In this Ayat, Allah Ta'ala has commanded the performance of Zikr. Allah Ta'ala did not mention any conditions with regard to the loudness or softness in the recitation of Zikr. According to the principles of Fiqh Hanafi, unconditional statements should be left as general statements & should not be made conditional.
Therefore, scholars like Imam Jalalluddin Suyutwi, Sulaimaan Jumal, Khazin & Hafiz Ibn Kaseer (alaihimur rahmah) have quoted the following Hadees-e-Qudsi in the commentary of this Ayat: "When he (My servant) remembers Me in his heart, I remember him personally & when he remembers Me in an assembly, I remember him in an assembly better than his". This Hadees-e-Qudsi endorses the recitation of both loud & soft Zikrs. Allama Sulaimaan Jumal (alaihir rahmah) says under the commentary of the very same Ayat that, "When he remembers Me in his heart" it means that one should remember Allah alone even if the Zikr is loud.
In a Hadees, it is said: "Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) said that he used to know that the beloved Rasool (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has completed his Salaat when he heard the Takbeer". (Mishkaat) Explaining this Hadees Shareef, Sheikh Abdul Haq Mohaddith Dehlawi (alaihir rahmah) says: "The Ulama have said that the meaning of "Takbeer" in the above Hadees is unconditional Zikr, as it is recorded in Bukhari & Muslim reported by Ibn Abbas that loud Zikr in the time of beloved Rasool (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was well-known. Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) said that "I used to know that Salaat was completed when I used to hear the Zikr being recited aloud". (Ash'at-ul-Lam'aat)
In Sahih Muslim, it is reported from Abdullah Ibn Zubair (radi Allahu anhu): "When the beloved Rasool (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) uttered the Salutation at the end of his Salaat, he used to say "LA ILAHA ILLALLAHO WAHDA HU LA SHARIKA LAHU" aloud" (Mishkaat) Commenting on this Hadees Shareef, Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dehlawi (alaihir rahmah) says: "This Hadees is categorical proof that Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) used to perform loud Zikr". (Ash'at-ul-Lam'aat)
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reports that Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said that Allah Ta'ala says: "I am close to the thoughts of My servant. When he remembers Me I am with him. When he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him personally & when he remembers Me in an assembly, I remember him in an assembly better than his". (Bukhari; Muslim; Mishkaat) Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlawi (alaihir rahmah) writes in the commentary of this Hadees : "There is proof in this Hadees for loud Zikr". (Ash'at-ul-Lam'aat)
Allama Khairuddin Ramli (alaihir rahmah) writes: "Zikr, which is performed in an assembly, has to be loud Zikr". (Fatawa Khairia)
Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (radi Allahu anhu) reports that on one evening the beloved Rasool (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) went out. He passed by Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) & found him reciting the Holy Quran in a very low tone & found Sayyiduna Umar's (radi Allahu anhu) recital to be loud. The next morning, as they gathered in the company of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) questioned their practice. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) replied: "Ya Rasool allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), I have attained my satisfaction. Whom I desired should hear my recitation, has Heard me". Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said, "I was awakening those who were asleep & I was causing Shaytaan to flee". The beloved Rasool (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) told Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) to recite louder & told Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) that he should lower his tone to some extent. (Mishkaat) It is inherent from this Hadees that Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) guided Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) from excessive loudness to medium loudness & he guided Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) from softness to loudness.
Those who object to loud Zikr say that: "It is recorded in Fataawa Qaadhi Khaan that to recite Zikr aloud is HARAAM, because Hadhrat Ibn Mas'ood (radi Allahu anhu) ejected a qroup of people from the Musjid as they were reciting La Ilaha Illallahu & Durood aloud & he (Ibn Mas'ood) remarked: I conclude that you are only BID'ATEES".
It is proven from a correct narration that Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) told those Sahabah (radi Allahu anhum) who were making loud Zikr, "Have mercy upon yourselves; you are not calling upon that Being Who is deaf or absent. You are calling upon that Being Who is All- Hearing & close by & He is with you". There is a possibility in this Hadees that maybe Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) stopped them in such a time when there was no Maslihat (expedience) in loudness, because it is proven that this was said at the occasion of war. Maybe loudness of the voice could have caused harm & war is a deception. For this reason it is stopped to ring the bell during war. To make loud Zikr is permissible in any case, as it happens in Azaan, Juma Khutbah & Hajj. (Bazazia)
Allama Khairuddin Ramli has discussed this issue in "Fatawa Kharia" & has said: "Whatever is mentioned in Fatawa Qazi Khan, implies harmful loudness". & he (Allama Ramli) said: "There are several Ahadith which demand loudness & there are several other Ahadees which demand softness & the Tatbeeq (likening) in these Ahadith will be in this way, that the loudness & softness changes according to the state of the people & the time. When there is fear of showing off & fear of interference in someone's Salaat or sleep, then softness is preferable. When this fear is not there then loudness is preferable, because listeners benefit from it, it awakens the heart of the Zaakir (one who makes Zikr), it directs his brain toward thinking, it directs his listening towards Zikr, & it takes the sleep away & increases his pleasure" (Fatawa Shaami)
Those who object to loud Zikr should give the Fatwa of Bid'at & Haraam on loud recitation of the Holy Quran. Stop the assemblies of Wa'iz because those gatherings are not empty of Zikrullah. Stop the Jahri (with loudness) Salaat as well.
Imam Abu Hanifah (alaihir rahmah) believes in the permissibility of loud Zikr generally. The maximum that can be said here is that where loudness is not proven from Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) Imam Abu Hanifah (radi Allahu anhu) does not regard the loudness as Sunnah on that occasion. This is indeed correct, but something that is not being Sunnah does not necessarily mean that it is not permissible. Imam Abu Hanifah regards loud Zikr as being permissible "Alal Omoom" (generally), otherwise he should have not given permission unconditionally.
We do agree that the voice should not be raised in the Masjid other than for the Zikr of Allah Ta'ala. "No voice should be raised in the Masjid besides the Zikr of Allah Ta'ala". (Fatawa Alamgiri) There are no indications of the loud Zikr being Haraam in the Masjid. The raising of the voice does not necessarily means it is the Zikr of Allah that is being conducted with a loud voice. It could mean the raising of the voice for anything other than the Zikr.
Allama Shaami (alaihir rahmah) writes: "The past & present Ulama reached a consensus that it is Mustahab (desirable) to make loud Zikr with congregation in the Masjid or elsewhere". (Fatawa Radd-ul-Mukhtaar; Shaami)
Imam Qazi Khan said about loud Zikr: "(There is) nothing wrong in reciting Tasbeeh & Kalimah with the loud voice". (Fatawa Qazi Khan) This quotation of Imam Qazi Khan shows that he is not against loud Zikr unconditionally. The prohibition from loud Zikr is attributed to excessive loudness.
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