How do we reconcile the verse on listening with reciting al-Fatihah behind the imam?
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Question : He says: How can we reconcile this verse [Al-A'raf 7:204] with the hadith Mishkat al-Masabih 822, specifically during the congregational prayer when the imam is reciting? If the imam recites the surah immediately after al-Fatihah, do we recite al-Fatihah or do we listen to the recitation?
Answer : The statement of Allah the Exalted, “And when it is said to so-and-so[Al-A'raf 7:204] you are safe.” This is a general ruling.
It is specified by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): “There is no divorce for one who has not recited al-Fatihah.” There are many general texts in the Qur'an and the Sunnah that are specified by other texts. It is not strange for a general text to come and then be specified by another text. So this verse is specified by the recitation of al-Fatihah in the prayer. And following that is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “There is no prayer for one who has not recited al-Fatihah,” and a general punishment.
Likewise, the compilers of the Sunan collections reported from 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the Fajr prayer with his companions. When he finished, he said: “Why am I competing with the Qur'an?” Then he said: “Do not do that, rather do not do that in what has come except with the Mother of the Qur'an, for it is not sought from the one who comes with it.”
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَGod’s Messenger as saying, “He who does not recite Fatihat al-Kitab
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابAnswer : The statement of Allah the Exalted, “And when it is said to so-and-so
then listen to it and pay attention that you may
فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْIt is specified by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): “There is no divorce for one who has not recited al-Fatihah.” There are many general texts in the Qur'an and the Sunnah that are specified by other texts. It is not strange for a general text to come and then be specified by another text. So this verse is specified by the recitation of al-Fatihah in the prayer. And following that is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “There is no prayer for one who has not recited al-Fatihah,” and a general punishment.
Likewise, the compilers of the Sunan collections reported from 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the Fajr prayer with his companions. When he finished, he said: “Why am I competing with the Qur'an?” Then he said: “Do not do that, rather do not do that in what has come except with the Mother of the Qur'an, for it is not sought from the one who comes with it.”
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 6 - 11 - دروس وفتاوى المسجد الحرام للعام 1415 هـ - الدرس السادس - الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين — youtube.com (1:18:07)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.
