Is the prayer valid for one who recites al-Fatihah without the basmalah?

The questioner:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner says: Some imams and those praying behind them begin al-Fatihah immediately after the opening supplication without the basmalah. What is your view on that? And is their prayer valid?

The Shaykh:
Regarding the question.

The questioner:
He says: Some imams and those praying behind them begin al-Fatihah immediately after the opening supplication without the basmalah. What is your view on that? And is their prayer valid? Knowing that they also do not mention it when standing for the second, third, and fourth rak'ahs?

The Shaykh:
They do not mention it, what?

The questioner:
They do not mention it.

The Shaykh:
First of all, it is possible that they are saying Bismillah, because Bismillah is said in secret; you do not raise your voice with it. You do not know about them; they are saying it, and you do not hear it. Second, suppose, suppose they did not say it, their prayer is valid, because Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim is not from al-Fatihah; it is not from the verses of al-Fatihah. Rather, it is an independent verse from the Qur'an that is said before the surahs, except for al-Bara'ah. It is an independent verse, not from al-Fatihah or any other, so it does not harm if a person leaves it out. Yes, except according to the opinion of those who hold that Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim is from al-Fatihah, a verse of al-Fatihah. According to this, the prayer is not valid. Yes.