If one doubts during his recitation of a surah that he did not recite al-Fatihah, and it is not more likely to him that he recited it or did not, should he recite al-Fatihah to dispel this doubt?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : If one doubts during his recitation of a surah that he did not recite al-Fatihah, and it is not more likely to him that he recited it or did not, should he recite al-Fatihah to dispel this doubt, or should he continue reading the surah and prostrate for forgetfulness to dispel the doubt?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for him to recite al-Fatihah as long as he has doubt, but on the condition that he is not one who has many doubts. If he has many doubts, or if the doubt in him is merely a whim with no basis, then he should not consider this doubt. This is because some people, whenever they pray, doubt about an addition or a subtraction, or about the intention, or about the takbir, or something similar. If this is his habit in all his prayers, then he should not pay attention to this doubt, because it is waswas (whispers of Satan), and waswas may spoil a person's worship if he follows it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and give you reward.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for him to recite al-Fatihah as long as he has doubt, but on the condition that he is not one who has many doubts. If he has many doubts, or if the doubt in him is merely a whim with no basis, then he should not consider this doubt. This is because some people, whenever they pray, doubt about an addition or a subtraction, or about the intention, or about the takbir, or something similar. If this is his habit in all his prayers, then he should not pay attention to this doubt, because it is waswas (whispers of Satan), and waswas may spoil a person's worship if he follows it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and give you reward.