If you enter the mosque and the imam is reciting al-Fatihah, should you recite the opening supplication or not?
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The questioner : He says: O honorable Shaykh, if I enter the mosque and the imam is reciting al-Fatihah, should I recite the opening supplication or not?
The Shaykh : If one enters with the imam in this manner, meaning if a person enters while the imam is reciting al-Fatihah, there is usually a pause between al-Fatihah and the recitation of the surah. We say: Listen now to the imam’s recitation, and when he finishes reciting al-Fatihah, then recite the opening supplication, and then recite al-Fatihah, even if the imam is still reciting. However, if you fear that he will not pause between al-Fatihah and the recitation of the surah, or if you fear that he will recite a short surah such that you will not be able to recite al-Fatihah, then if you enter while he is reciting, say the takbir, say: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, and recite al-Fatihah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the ma’mum to recite while the imam is reciting, except for al-Fatihah. Yes.
The Shaykh : If one enters with the imam in this manner, meaning if a person enters while the imam is reciting al-Fatihah, there is usually a pause between al-Fatihah and the recitation of the surah. We say: Listen now to the imam’s recitation, and when he finishes reciting al-Fatihah, then recite the opening supplication, and then recite al-Fatihah, even if the imam is still reciting. However, if you fear that he will not pause between al-Fatihah and the recitation of the surah, or if you fear that he will recite a short surah such that you will not be able to recite al-Fatihah, then if you enter while he is reciting, say the takbir, say: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, and recite al-Fatihah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the ma’mum to recite while the imam is reciting, except for al-Fatihah. Yes.