Do you need permission from a Shaykh to do Zikr loudly? Is it a sin to do loud Zikr while someone is sleeping nearby? If so, can the person trying to sleep tell the brother to quiet down his Zikr?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

It is not clear to us what the questioner means by the expression "Permission of the Shaykh". However, if what is meant is the permission of the Imaam for the people to make the prescribed mention of Allaah loudly after having performed the prescribed prayer, then it is not a condition to seek his permission, according to those who consider that it is desirable to make the prescribed mention of Allaah loudly. However, many scholars are of the view that it is not desirable to make the mention of Allaah loudly after performing obligatory prayers. Nevertheless, it is not a condition to seek the permission of anyone to make the mention of Allaah either loudly or silently. What the Sufists are doing when making the mention of Allaah in a particular way and according to the view of a particular Shaykh, is an innovation. The Prophet said: "Whoever introduces in this faith of ours that which is not a part of it, it will be rejected." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] For more details, please refer to Fatwa: 82017.

Moreover, you have to know that in principle the mention of Allaah is done silently, as Allaah says (which means): {And remember your Lord by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear without loudness in words in the mornings, and in the afternoons and be not of those who are neglectful.}[7:205]. The meaning of "humbly and with fear" means with hope and fear without raising the voice. Ibn Katheer said: 'This is how the mention of Allaah should be, it should not be made in a loud voice. The Prophet was asked: "Is our Lord near so that we would supplicate Him in a low voice, or is He far away so that we would supplicate Him in a loud voice?"' Thereupon Allaah revealed (which means): {And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad ) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor).}[2: 186].

Once the companions raised their voice when making a supplication during a trip, so the Prophet told them: "Supplicate in a soft tone, you are not calling One Who is dumb or far away." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Making a supplication silently is better and closer to sincerity. This is even more confirmed if raising one's voice causes disturbance to the sleeping person or the one in prayer.

As regards whether or not one is sinful when he is making a supplication loudly, Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami said: 'Making a supplication loudly in the presence of a sleeping or a praying person is probably disliked when there is not a great harm otherwise it should be forbidden, and Allaah knows best.'

Therefore, according to the opinion that making a supplication loudly is disliked, the person is not sinful; however, one is sinful according to the view that it is forbidden. The sleeping person has the right to ask him to lower his voice.

Allaah knows best.