Amens › Amen in Jewish, Christian and Muslim prayer
Amen in Jewish, Christian and Muslim prayer
Three faiths share the word amen, and each has its own customs. This page describes how it is used, without comparing beliefs.
What they share
In all three traditions, amen is a response. It is a way for those listening to join in a prayer said by someone else, or to close a prayer of their own. It signals agreement and trust. Beyond that, practice varies with the community, the language and the occasion, so the notes below are general descriptions rather than rules for any one congregation.
In Judaism
In Jewish tradition, amen is a response to blessings, and Jewish law makes it required in many situations. It is also part of the response in the Kaddish, a prayer recited in worship and in mourning. A notable feature is that the person saying a blessing usually does not answer their own, which differs from the usual Christian custom. The listener is the one who says amen, as an act of joining in.
The idea behind this is that hearing a blessing and answering amen shares it between people. Amen was already a response at the Second Temple in Jerusalem, following songs chanted by the Levites, and later Jewish liturgy kept the pattern. Jewish teaching holds the response in high regard, and the Talmud contains many sayings about its importance.
In Christianity
The New Testament uses the Greek form ἀμήν both as a statement of faith and as part of worship. It is used to close the Lord's Prayer and many other prayers and hymns. In a typical church service, the minister says a prayer and the congregation answers amen. A person saying a prayer on their own will often end it with amen as well.
Churches differ in how it is said. In some, it is spoken quietly; in others it is called out; in many, it is sung. In some churches, a single amen is said to close a prayer, and in others a threefold amen is sung. The texts of individual services vary, so check the order of service if you are visiting.
Within the Gospels, Jesus is recorded using amen at the start of statements to give them emphasis. English Bibles usually render this as "truly" or "verily", and some older versions keep "Verily, verily".
In Islam
In Islam the word is āmīn. It is said after supplications (duʿāʾ), after reciting Al-Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Quran, during the prayer (salah) and to express assent to somebody else's prayer. Arabic dictionaries define it as an imperative verbal noun meaning something like "answer" or "reply", so it carries the sense of asking God to respond. Unlike in Hebrew, it is used only at the close, not as an opening "truly".
Details of how it is said, for instance whether aloud or silently during certain prayers, differ between schools of Islamic law and between communities. If you want to know the practice of a particular mosque, the imam or the community is the best guide.
Side by side
| Judaism | Christianity | Islam | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | Hebrew ʾāmēn | Greek ἀμήν, English amen | Arabic āmīn |
| Main use | Answering blessings and prayers such as the Kaddish | Closing prayers, hymns and the Lord's Prayer | After supplications and Al-Fatiha, and in prayer |
| Who says it | Usually the listener, not the one reciting the blessing | Congregation and the person praying | The listener, and the one praying |
| Opening "truly" | Yes, in the Hebrew Bible | Yes, in the Gospels | No, closing use only |
Visiting a service
If you attend a service of a faith that is not your own, nobody expects you to do anything you are uncomfortable with. Listening quietly and respectfully is always acceptable. If you want to join in with amen, follow the congregation, and if you are unsure, ask someone beforehand. People are usually pleased by the interest.
Further reading on this site
The history of the word is on meaning and origin. Its musical life is covered in musical amens, and common phrases are on amen in everyday English.
Frequently asked questions
Who says amen in Jewish prayer?
Usually the listener. The person reciting a blessing does not normally answer their own, which differs from the usual Christian custom.
When do Muslims say amen?
Āmīn is said after supplications, after reciting Al-Fatiha, during prayer and to show agreement with another person's prayer.
Is amen in the Lord's Prayer?
Amen concludes the Lord's Prayer in Christian use, as it does many other prayers and hymns.