The Ruling on Reciting al-Fatihah for the One Who Joins the Prayer Late

Question:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. He says: If a person joins the prayer behind the imam after the imam has finished reciting al-Fatihah and has begun the verses that follow al-Fatihah, is he required to recite al-Fatihah, or should he listen to the imam’s recitation? It is known that he did not attend the recitation of al-Fatihah, as I mentioned. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
This is a matter on which there is scholarly disagreement among the people of knowledge: Is it obligatory for the ma'mum (one praying behind the imam) to recite al-Fatihah, or is the imam’s recitation sufficient, and he should listen to the imam’s recitation? The most cautious course for him, if the opportunity allows, is to recite al-Fatihah during the imam’s pauses; he should strive to recite it. If he is unable to recite it, then the imam’s recitation is sufficient, if Allah wills.

The presenter:
If Allah wills.