The Ruling on the Ma'mum Reciting al-Fatihah

Question : He says: If the ma'mum (one praying behind the imam) forgets to recite al-Fatihah in one of the rak'ahs of a prayer where the recitation is loud, does he owe anything?

Answer : There is scholarly disagreement regarding the recitation of al-Fatihah for the ma'mum. Some scholars said it is not obligatory for the ma'mum, and that the imam's recitation is the same as the recitation of Allah, whether in a quiet or loud prayer. Others said it is obligatory for the ma'mum in both quiet and loud prayers. And others said that in a loud prayer it is not obligatory because he listened to it from the imam, but in a quiet prayer it is obligatory. This is the most balanced of the opinions and the most consistent with the reasoning, were it not for the fact that the text came down with the opposite. What is the text?
It is what 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed Fajr with them one day, and they were reciting behind him. When he finished his prayer, he asked them about it, then he said to them: Do not do that, meaning do not recite with the imam except al-Fatihah, for there is no prayer for one who does not recite it. This hadith is a text establishing the obligation of reciting al-Fatihah for the ma'mum, even in a loud prayer. So if he did not recite it, and we say that it is obligatory for him, he is like a man praying alone; that is, he must perform a rak'ah in place of the rak'ah in which he left it. Yes. May Allah reward you.