What is the ruling if a man enters the mosque and finds the imam reciting a surah after al-Fatihah, in terms of listening?
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The questioner : ... If a person, meaning he did not catch the takbir al-ihram in the prayer, and he entered the prayer while the imam was reciting the surah following al-Fatihah.
The Shaykh : Is this in the prayers where the recitation is loud, or in the prayers where it is silent?
The questioner : In the loud prayers.
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner : Is it better for him to recite al-Fatihah, or to listen to the imam?
The Shaykh : Without a doubt, there is much and old disagreement among the imams regarding recitation behind the imam in general. The Hanafis say: The follower does not recite behind the imam at all, neither in the silent prayers nor in the loud prayers. Opposing them are the Shafi'is, who say that reciting al-Fatihah behind the imam is an essential pillar in both the silent and the loud prayers. The Imam Malik and the Imam Ahmad took a middle position between the two groups, saying that one recites in the silent prayers and listens in the loud prayers. This third school, which is the middle one, is the truth that prevails for us when we study the evidence of these three schools of jurisprudence; it becomes clear that the middle one is the most moderate, the most just, and the closest to the correct ruling. Based on this, the answer to your question is that the one who came to the mosque and the imam is reciting, whether al-Fatihah or what comes after al-Fatihah of verses or surahs, as long as the follower hears his recitation and reading, he does not recite anything. One of the evidences for this is the well-known verse:[Al-A'raf 7:204]. This is confirmed by the fact that it came in many hadiths and athar from the great righteous Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them) that the one who comes and the imam is bowing, and he catches the bowing with him, has caught the rak'ah, even though he did not recite al-Fatihah. So following the imam drops from the person what is obligatory upon him initially or originally. Therefore, there is a hadith indicating that completing the following and imitating the imam includes listening to him. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 921Sahih (Darussalam), and when he recites, listen. So listening to the imam is part of completing the following of him. Therefore, the imam bears the recitation of the late-joining follower in all the recitation if he catches him bowing. This has come explicitly in some authentic hadiths. Also, athar came from the Salaf, including Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, Zayd ibn Thabit, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, and Abdullah ibn Umar: "The one who catches the bowing is the one who catches the rak'ah." Indeed, an incident occurred between Ibn Mas'ud and another man who entered the mosque and found the imam bowing, so he bowed, and it was the first rak'ah. When the imam finished the prayer, his companion stood up to make up the rak'ah, so Ibn Mas'ud pulled him and said: "Sit down, you have caught the rak'ah." And this is the answer to what you asked.
The student: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Welcome, how are you?
The Shaykh : Is this in the prayers where the recitation is loud, or in the prayers where it is silent?
The questioner : In the loud prayers.
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner : Is it better for him to recite al-Fatihah, or to listen to the imam?
The Shaykh : Without a doubt, there is much and old disagreement among the imams regarding recitation behind the imam in general. The Hanafis say: The follower does not recite behind the imam at all, neither in the silent prayers nor in the loud prayers. Opposing them are the Shafi'is, who say that reciting al-Fatihah behind the imam is an essential pillar in both the silent and the loud prayers. The Imam Malik and the Imam Ahmad took a middle position between the two groups, saying that one recites in the silent prayers and listens in the loud prayers. This third school, which is the middle one, is the truth that prevails for us when we study the evidence of these three schools of jurisprudence; it becomes clear that the middle one is the most moderate, the most just, and the closest to the correct ruling. Based on this, the answer to your question is that the one who came to the mosque and the imam is reciting, whether al-Fatihah or what comes after al-Fatihah of verses or surahs, as long as the follower hears his recitation and reading, he does not recite anything. One of the evidences for this is the well-known verse:
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَThe Imam is appointed to be followed, so when he says the takbir, say the takbir, and when he recites, be silent
إنما جُعِلَ الإمام لِيُؤتَمَّ به ؛ فإذا كبَّرَ فكبروا ، وإذا قرأ فأنصتواThe student: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Welcome, how are you?
Source
www.al-albany.com
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