Talking after Iqamah

By Rabee' Al-Awwal

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

If this talk is within what is permissible then there is no harm in it but it is more appropriate to avoid it.

The evidence of this is what is reported in Saheeh Bukhari and Muslim that Anas (Radiya Allahu Anhu) narrated that the Iqamah was called and "The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) was talking to a man at one side of the mosque, and he did not start to lead the prayer until the people – who were waiting to pray - had fallen asleep."

Al Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The view of our Madhab and the Madhab of the majority of scholars of Hijaz and others is that it is permissible to talk after the Iqamah and before the Imam starts the prayer; however it is more appropriate to avoid it unless for a necessity.'

Abu Hanifa said, 'It is disliked, and so is the opinion of other scholars of Kufah. Our evidence is the authentic Hadith mentioned above.'

Al Bahuti said in Sharh Muntaha Al Iradat: 'It is permissible to talk after the Iqamah and before the starting of the prayer.'

Allah knows best.