Al-Shāfi‘ī also said: “Ibrāhīm ibn Muhammad informed us, saying: ‘Ibn Khuthaym narrated to me, from Ismā‘īl ibn ‘Ubayd ibn Rifā‘ah, from his father, that Mu‘āwiyah came to Medina and led them in prayer. He did not recite “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful,” nor did he say “Allah is the Greatest” when lowering or raising himself. When he concluded with the salutation, the Emigrants and the Helpers called out to him: “Mu‘āwiyah! Have you stolen from the prayer?”’ He then related the rest of the report.”
Al-Shāfi‘ī also said: “Yahyā ibn Sulaym informed us, from ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Uthmān ibn Khuthaym, from Ismā‘īl ibn ‘Ubayd ibn Rifā‘ah, from his father, from his grandfather, concerning Mu‘āwiyah and the Emigrants and Helpers, relating the same report, or one to the same effect, without contradicting it. I consider this chain of transmission more accurately preserved than the first. It is in the book of Ismā‘īl ibn ‘Ubayd ibn Rifā‘ah, narrated from his father, from his grandfather, concerning Mu‘āwiyah.”
Al-Khatīb mentioned that this was the strongest evidence adduced on the matter. Yet it does not constitute proof, as will be explained. Thus, if the experts in hadith agree that there is no authentic hadith, nor any explicit one, supporting reciting the basmalah aloud—let alone widely transmitted or mass-transmitted reports—it is impossible that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to recite it aloud. Likewise, it is impossible that he used to recite the opening supplication and the invocation seeking refuge in Allah aloud without this being transmitted.
If it is objected:
“This argument is countered by his refraining from reciting it aloud, since people would likewise have had every reason and incentive to transmit that. Yet it has not been mass-transmitted; indeed, scholars have disputed it. Moreover, assuming that he refrained from reciting it aloud, he would have done so consistently, yet this has not been transmitted conclusively; rather, it has become a matter of dispute.”