Editing Amen (section)

==Congregational use==
{{anchor|Religious use}}

===Judaism===
{{See also|Berakhah#Reciting amen}}

Although amen, in Judaism, is commonly used as a response to a blessing, it also is often used by Hebrew speakers as an affirmation of other forms of declaration (including outside of religious context).

Jewish rabbinical [[halakha|law]] requires an individual to say ''amen'' in a variety of contexts.<ref>[[Orach Chaim]] 56 (amen in [[kaddish]])</ref><ref>[[Orach Chaim|O.C.]] 124 (amen in response to [[brachah|blessing]]s recited by the [[Hazzan|prayer reader]])</ref><ref>[[Orach Chaim|O.C.]] 215 (amen in response to [[brachah|blessing]]s made by any individual outside of the liturgy)</ref> With the rise of the synagogue during the [[Second Temple]] period, ''amen'' became a common response, especially to benedictions. It is recited communally to affirm a [[brachah|blessing]] made by the [[Hazzan|prayer reader]]. It is also mandated as a response during the [[kaddish]] doxology. The congregation is sometimes prompted to answer "amen" by the terms ''ve-'imru'' ({{langx|he|ואמרו}}) = "and [now] say (pl.)," or, ''ve-nomar'' (ונאמר) = "and we will say." Contemporary usage reflects ancient practice: As early as the 4th century BCE, Jews assembled in the [[second temple|Temple]] responded "amen" at the close of a doxology or other prayer uttered by a [[kohen|priest]]. This Jewish [[liturgical]] use of amen was adopted by the Christians.<ref name="Amen"/> But [[halakha|Jewish law]] also requires individuals to answer ''amen'' whenever they hear a [[brachah|blessing]] recited, even in a non-liturgical setting.

The [[Talmud]] teaches [[Homiletics|homiletically]] that the word ''amen'' is an [[acronym]] for אל מלך נאמן ({{transliteration|he|ʾEl melekh neʾeman}}, "God, trustworthy King"),<ref name="Tractate Shabbat 119b">[[Shabbat (Talmud)|Tractate Shabbat]] 119b and [[Sanhedrin (tractate)|Tractate Sanhedrin]] 111a</ref> the phrase recited silently by an individual before reciting the [[Shma]].

Jews usually use Hebrew pronunciations of the word: {{IPAc-en|ɑː|ˈ|m|ɛ|n}} {{respell|ah|MEN|'}} (Israeli and [[Sephardi Hebrew language|Sephardi]]) or {{IPAc-en|ɔː|ˈ|m|eɪ|n}} {{respell|aw|MAYN|'}} ([[Ashkenazi Hebrew|Ashkenazi]]).<ref>''To Pray as a Jew: A Guide to the Prayer Book and the Synagogue Service,'' Hayim Halevy Donin</ref>

===Christianity===
The use of "amen" has been generally adopted in Christian worship as a concluding word<ref name=EB1911>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Amen |volume=1 |page=804}}</ref> for prayers and hymns and an expression of strong agreement.<ref name="Amen"/> The liturgical use of the word in apostolic times is attested (1 Corinthians 14:16<ref name="eastonsbibledictionary.com" />), and [[Justin Martyr]] (c. 150) describes the congregation as responding "amen" to the benediction after the celebration of the Eucharist.<ref name="ce"/><ref name=EB1911/> Its introduction into the baptismal formula (in the Eastern Orthodox Church it is pronounced after the name of each person of the Trinity) was probably later.<ref>Among certain [[gnosticism|Gnostic]] sects, ''Amen'' became the name of an angel.</ref><ref name=EB1911/>

In [[Isaiah]] 65:16, the authorized version has "the God of truth" ("the God of amen" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]). Jesus often used amen to put emphasis to his own words (translated: "verily" or "truly"). In John's Gospel, it is repeated, "Verily, verily" (or "Truly, truly"). Amen is also used in oaths (Numbers 5:22; Deuteronomy 27:15–26; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6; 1 Chronicles 16:36).<ref name="eastonsbibledictionary.com">{{cite web|url=http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/a/amen.htm|title=Bible Dictionary: Amen|work=eastonsbibledictionary.com|access-date=2 September 2015}}</ref>

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''Amen'' is also used in standard, international French, but in [[Cajun French]] ''{{lang|fr|Ainsi soit-il}}'' ("so be it") is used instead.

Amen is used at the end of the [[Lord's Prayer]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Matthew 6:9–15|url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:9-15&version=WYC|work=Wycliffe Bible|author=Wycliffe}}</ref> which is also called the Our Father or the ''Pater Noster''.

In some Christian [[Church (building)|churches]], the "amen corner" or "amen section" is any subset of the congregation likely to call out "Amen!" in response to points in a preacher's [[sermon]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hovda |first1=Robert W. |date=1983 |title=The amen corner |journal=Worship |volume=57 |issue=2 |pages=150–156}}</ref> Metaphorically, the term can refer to any group of heartfelt traditionalists or supporters of an authority figure. The term has also been used as a place name, and as a title for musical and literary works; see ''[[Amen Corner (disambiguation)|Amen Corner]]''.

==={{anchor|Amen in Islam}}Islam===
[[File:Ameen.gif|thumb|ʾĀmīn in [[Arabic]].]]
''ʾĀmīn'' ({{langx|ar|آمين}}) is the Arabic form of ''Amen''. In Islam, it is used with the same meaning as in Judaism and Christianity; when concluding a prayer, especially after a [[supplication]] ([[du'a]]) or reciting the first surah [[Al Fatiha]] of the [[Qur'an]], as in [[prayer]] ([[salat]]), and as an assent to the prayers of others.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hastings | first = James | author-link=James Hastings| title = A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels: Volume I | publisher = The Minerva Group, Inc.| orig-year=1901| year = 2004 | page = 52}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Glassé | first = Cyril | title = The New Encyclopedia of Islam | publisher = Stacey International | year = 2003| page = 48 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=focLrox-frUC&pg=PA48
| isbn = 978-0759101906 }}</ref>

Arabic dictionaries define ''ʾāmīn'' as an imperative [[verbal noun]], whose meaning is ''answer'' or ''reply'' (i.e., imploring God to grant one's prayer). The word was borrowed from Hebrew into Arabic in only this context, thus it is strictly used in Arabic as a final ''amen'' to conclude supplications or to declare affirmation, and has no initial ''amen'' usage with the meaning of ''truly'' or ''certainly'' as found in the word’s original Hebrew language grammar.