"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When the Imam says: Not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray, say: 'Amin' for the angels say Amin and the Imam says Amin, and if a person's Amin coincides with the Amin of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven.'"
The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer - Sunan an-Nasa'i
Hadith Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 927
Hadith Text
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When the Imam says: Not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray, say: 'Amin' for the angels say Amin and the Imam says Amin, and if a person's Amin coincides with the Amin of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven.'"
Commentary on the Timing of Amin
The Prophet (ﷺ) specifies the precise moment for saying Amin - when the Imam completes the recitation of Surah al-Fatihah, particularly at the verse "Not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray." This timing is crucial as it creates synchronization between the worshipper, the Imam, and the angels.
The Threefold Amin
The hadith reveals a profound spiritual reality: when the worshipper says Amin, three parties utter this supplication simultaneously - the angels in the heavens, the Imam leading the prayer, and the individual worshipper. This tripartite harmony creates a powerful spiritual moment of collective supplication.
The Significance of Synchronization
The condition for forgiveness of previous sins is the coincidence of one's Amin with that of the angels. This teaches us the importance of attentiveness in prayer and proper timing in acts of worship. It emphasizes that external conformity with the congregation leads to internal spiritual benefits.
Spiritual Implications
This hadith demonstrates Allah's immense mercy, where a single word uttered at the proper time with proper intention can erase previous sins. It shows how congregational prayer elevates individual worship, connecting the earthly congregation with the heavenly one through synchronized devotion.