and the two Eids, the prayer for rain, Tarawih, Witr, the eclipse prayer, and every prayer for which congregational performance is prescribed. In all such prayers, it is recommended to recite aloud, with the exception of Zuhr and Asr. If someone were to ask: Why are prayers at night recited aloud, whereas prayers during the day are recited silently?
The answer is that intrusive thoughts are fewer at night, and the heart and tongue are united in recitation. Thus, people joining in following the imam’s voice and recitation is more effective than their being dispersed. This is why audible recitation is not prescribed during the day except in a major congregational prayer, such as Jumu‘ah, the two Eids, the prayer for rain, and the eclipse prayer: the people are gathered together. There is no doubt that their listening attentively to the imam’s recitation makes their recitation a single recitation, for the listener is like the reciter. Were the imam to recite silently, each person would recite for himself. Thus, audible recitation is more conducive to uniting the people in recitation, unlike silent recitation. This is the wisdom that appears to me regarding audible recitation in the Jumu‘ah prayer, the two Eid prayers, and similar prayers, as well as in the night prayer. And Allah knows best.
Anyone other than the imam makes himself hear …
His statement, “and anyone other than the imam makes himself hear,” means that anyone other than the imam—namely, the follower in prayer—and the person praying alone, must make himself hear. That is, he must speak and articulate the words in a manner in which he can hear himself. If he articulates the letters without making himself hear, his recitation is invalid; indeed, even his takbir is invalid. Thus, if he says the takbir, “Allahu akbar” (Allah is Most Great), but does so in a manner in which he cannot hear himself, his prayer is not initiated, because the takbir itself is invalid.
However, for the obligation of making oneself hear to apply, there must be no impediment to hearing oneself. If there is an impediment, the obligation is waived because of that impediment. For instance, if a person is praying amid loud noises, he cannot hear himself unless he raises his voice considerably. In that case, we say: it is sufficient for you to articulate the words in such a manner that