The ruling on one who limits himself to reciting al-Fatihah in all his prayers and persists in doing so
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The third question of Fatwa No. ( 1500 )
Q3: A regular imam who leads people in prayer limits himself in all the rak'ahs of the prayer to reciting only al-Fatihah, intentionally. He says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the one who erred in his prayer: "Recite whatever is easy for you from the Qur'an," and the surah is a recommended practice (sunnah), and a recommended practice does not invalidate an obligatory act. Is what he says correct? Also, if he forgets the surah and does not prostrate for it intentionally, is his prayer valid or not?
A3: The guidance of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was that when he recited al-Fatihah in the first two rak'ahs of the Dhuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib, and 'Isha' prayers, he would recite after it whatever was easy for him. Likewise in the Fajr, Jumu'ah, the two 'Eids, the eclipse prayer, and the prayer for rain. This is what is established in the authentic hadiths from him (peace and blessings be upon him). We do not know of any evidence indicating that he limited himself to al-Fatihah only. Limiting oneself to it in the cases mentioned is contrary to his guidance (peace and blessings be upon him). Whoever limits himself to it, claiming that this is what the Sunnah indicates, has erred and contradicted the Sunnah. There is no proof in the hadith of the one who erred in his prayer for one who wants to limit himself to al-Fatihah in the cases mentioned; because he means by his saying: "Then recite whatever is easy for you from the Qur'an," whatever is easy from other surahs along with it; due to the indication of the hadiths regarding its necessity. And it came in some of its narrations in Abu Dawud :Bulugh al-Maram 2:145 , and this is a text that resolves the issue. The second aspect: That the hadith was presented as a teaching regarding the specific error that the man made, so it is not used as a proof for the non-obligation of anything else. Otherwise, it would follow that intention, the closing salam, and other things not mentioned would not be obligatory.
As for leaving the recitation of what is in addition to al-Fatihah due to forgetfulness, prostration is not obligatory for it in the most correct of the two opinions of the scholars. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q3: A regular imam who leads people in prayer limits himself in all the rak'ahs of the prayer to reciting only al-Fatihah, intentionally. He says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the one who erred in his prayer: "Recite whatever is easy for you from the Qur'an," and the surah is a recommended practice (sunnah), and a recommended practice does not invalidate an obligatory act. Is what he says correct? Also, if he forgets the surah and does not prostrate for it intentionally, is his prayer valid or not?
A3: The guidance of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was that when he recited al-Fatihah in the first two rak'ahs of the Dhuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib, and 'Isha' prayers, he would recite after it whatever was easy for him. Likewise in the Fajr, Jumu'ah, the two 'Eids, the eclipse prayer, and the prayer for rain. This is what is established in the authentic hadiths from him (peace and blessings be upon him). We do not know of any evidence indicating that he limited himself to al-Fatihah only. Limiting oneself to it in the cases mentioned is contrary to his guidance (peace and blessings be upon him). Whoever limits himself to it, claiming that this is what the Sunnah indicates, has erred and contradicted the Sunnah. There is no proof in the hadith of the one who erred in his prayer for one who wants to limit himself to al-Fatihah in the cases mentioned; because he means by his saying: "Then recite whatever is easy for you from the Qur'an," whatever is easy from other surahs along with it; due to the indication of the hadiths regarding its necessity. And it came in some of its narrations in Abu Dawud :
Then read the Ummul-Qur'an (i.e. Surah al-Fatiha) and what ever Allah wishes
وكبر ثم اقرأ بأم القرآن وبما شاء اللهAs for leaving the recitation of what is in addition to al-Fatihah due to forgetfulness, prostration is not obligatory for it in the most correct of the two opinions of the scholars. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.