Chapter: The Two Silences - Also -

• I asked Ishaq about a man when he is an imam, and he recites the Opening of the Book (al-Fatihah), and finishes the surah; should he say the takbir (Allahu Akbar) the moment he finishes, joining the takbir with the recitation, or should he pause briefly and then say the takbir? He said: "He should pause; it is more beloved to me that he separates between the takbir and the recitation with a silence."

895 - Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Ja'far narrated to us, saying: Sa'id narrated to us, from Qatadah, who said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to have two silences in his prayer."

• Ahmad said: "Some of them said: The two silences are: a silence when he opens the prayer before the recitation, and a silence when he finishes the recitation before the bowing (ruku')."

896 - Yahya al-Himmani narrated to us, saying: Sharik narrated to us, from al-A'mash, from Ibrahim, who said: "'Umar used to join the recitation with the takbir for bowing."

Chapter: Beautifying the Voice with the Quran

• I said to Ishaq: Should the imam embellish his recitation (tatrib)? He said: "He should beautify his voice so that it is more energetic for them; there is no harm in that, provided it makes them more tender-hearted."

897 - 'Abdah ibn 'Abd al-Rahim narrated to us, saying: Abu Wahb narrated to us, who said: "'Abdullah disliked these melodies with which they perform tatrib."