What is the validity of the statement: The imam’s recitation is the recitation of the ma’mum?
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The questioner:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. Those who say that the imam’s recitation is the recitation of the ma’mum, what is your opinion of this statement, O Professor Salih?
The Shaykh:
This is a sound opinion, because Allah commanded listening and paying attention to the imam's recitation. The imam's recitation of al-Fatihah and the ma'mum's saying "Ameen" in response to it counts as recitation for everyone. So if the imam recites al-Fatihah and the ma'mum listens, then says "Ameen" after he finishes, it is as if he had recited it. Evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Yunus 10:88] He said: "Your supplication has been answered."
The one who made the supplication was Musa (peace be upon him), and Musa said it. Harun (peace be upon him) said “Ameen” to Musa’s supplication. Allah the Exalted said:[Yunus 10:89] So He made them both supplicants: the one who supplicated and the one who said “Ameen.” This is evidence that the ma’mum’s saying “Ameen” to the imam’s recitation is equivalent to reciting al-Fatihah.
The presenter:
Naturally, this is in the prayer where it is omitted.
The Shaykh:
So it is necessary to recite al-Fatihah in all cases.
The presenter:
May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh:
It does not fall under the statement “And when the Qur’an is recited, listen to it and pay attention,” because he does not hear the imam’s recitation.
The presenter:
May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh:
It is a sunnah (recommended practice) that is omitted by the Shari’ah. May Allah bless you and reward you with good.
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. Those who say that the imam’s recitation is the recitation of the ma’mum, what is your opinion of this statement, O Professor Salih?
The Shaykh:
This is a sound opinion, because Allah commanded listening and paying attention to the imam's recitation. The imam's recitation of al-Fatihah and the ma'mum's saying "Ameen" in response to it counts as recitation for everyone. So if the imam recites al-Fatihah and the ma'mum listens, then says "Ameen" after he finishes, it is as if he had recited it. Evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And Moses said, "Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment."
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ آتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالًا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا عَن سَبِيلِكَ رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَىٰ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَThe one who made the supplication was Musa (peace be upon him), and Musa said it. Harun (peace be upon him) said “Ameen” to Musa’s supplication. Allah the Exalted said:
Your supplication has been answered
قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَاThe presenter:
Naturally, this is in the prayer where it is omitted.
The Shaykh:
So it is necessary to recite al-Fatihah in all cases.
The presenter:
May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh:
It does not fall under the statement “And when the Qur’an is recited, listen to it and pay attention,” because he does not hear the imam’s recitation.
The presenter:
May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh:
It is a sunnah (recommended practice) that is omitted by the Shari’ah. May Allah bless you and reward you with good.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما صحة القول: إنَّ قراءة الإمام قراءةً للمأموم؟ الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.