Why are midday and Asr prayers silent?

In Islamic religious practice, prayer is one of the most important pillars and a pillar of religion. The five daily prayers are obligatory for Muslims and each has its own unique characteristics, including the readings that are chanted. Midday and Asr prayers, in particular, have different characteristics compared to other prayers, namely that they are carried out sirri or without sound.

Quoting the book Fiqh Four Madzhab Volume 1 by Shaikh Abdurrahman Al-Juzairi, the Zuhr and Asr prayers are indeed different from the other three obligatory prayers, namely that it is sunnah to slow down the reading in prayer when reciting Surah Al-Fatihah and other short Surahs.

During congregational prayers, the imam of the Zuhr and Asr prayers usually does not make loud sounds like other prayers, such as Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr. Why is that? The following is the explanation.

Why are midday and Asr prayers silent in Islam?

The main reason why the midday and Asr prayers are silent is because the Prophet gave an example of reading the midday and Asr prayers in a low voice.

As Muslims, we should follow the example set by the Prophet in carrying out prayers. This is as explained in the following hadith history:

صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي

Meaning: "Pray as you see me praying." (HR. Bukhari and Ad-Darimi)

The beginning of the recommendation to lower the voice in reciting the Zuhr and Asr prayers was due to the revelation of the Al-Quran, Surah Al-Isra verse 110. Allah SWT said:

قُلِ ادْعُوا اللّٰهَ اَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمٰنَۗ اَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُ وْا فَلَهُ الْاَسْمَاۤءُ الْحُسْنٰىۚ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ God willing

Meaning: "Say (Prophet Muhammad), 'Cry out 'Allah' or call out 'Ar-Rahman'! Whichever name you call out, (then it is good) because He has the best names (Asmaulhusna).

Do not increase your prayer (reading) and do not (also) lower it. Try to find the (middle) path between (the two)!" (QS. Al-Isra: 110)

In this letter, Allah ordered the Messenger of Allah not to read loudly during prayer, but not too slowly.

According to the Tafsir Tahlili Qur'an of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag), the meaning of "reading" in this verse includes the pronunciation of basmalah and letters in prayer. This order came down when the Prophet was in Mecca.

At that time, the Prophet raised his voice during prayer so that it could be heard by the polytheists in Mecca. When they heard it, they then mocked, criticized, and insulted the Koran, the Messenger of Allah, and also his friends.

At the beginning of Islam, Muslims were still in a weak state. The Prophet, his companions, and other Muslims finally prayed in secret to avoid persecution by the polytheists.

During midday and Asr prayers, Rasulullah read Surah Al-Fatihah and short surahs in a low voice to avoid the attention of the polytheists who roamed everywhere.

Meanwhile, during the morning prayer, Al-Fatihah is read aloud because at that time the polytheists were still sleeping soundly.

Meanwhile, during Maghrib and Isha prayers, Surah Al-Fatihah is read aloud because the polytheists are busy with entertainment, so they no longer have time to pay attention to the Muslims.

After the Muslims became strong and moved to Medina, the Prophet did not change his habits until he died. Since then, Muslims all over the world have carried out what was exemplified by the Prophet.