What is the ruling on reciting the Basmalah before the opening of the Book during prayer?

The questioner : What is the ruling on reciting the Basmalah before the opening of the Book during prayer?

The Shaykh : If the questioner is asking about the ruling on reciting it aloud.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : The correct view is that it is not prescribed to recite it aloud, and that keeping it to oneself is better, because this is what is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, if one recites it aloud occasionally, there is no blame on him. If he is asking about reciting it silently, then reciting it silently is a recommended practice (sunnah) according to the stronger opinion, because the stronger opinion is that it is not part of al-Fatihah, but rather the Basmalah is an independent verse that appears at the beginning of the surahs, except for Surat al-Baqarah, and it is not part of al-Fatihah. The evidence for this is the hadith of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: قسمت الصلاة بيني وبين عبدي نصفين فإذا قال الحمد لله رب العالمين قال حمدني عبدي وإذا قال الرحمان الرحيم قال أثنى عليّ عبدي وإذا قال مالك يوم الدين قال مجّدني عبدي وإذا قال إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين قال هذا بيني وبين عبدي نصفين فإذا قال اهدنا الصراط المستقيم صراط الذين أنعمت عليهم غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين قال الله هذا لعبدي ولعبدي ما سأل The prayer was divided between me and my servant into two halves. When he says, "All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds," He says, "My servant has praised Me." When he says, "The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy," He says, "My servant has extolled Me." When he says, "Master of the Day of Judgment," He says, "My servant has glorified Me." When he says, "You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help," He says, "This is between Me and My servant." When he says, "Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned Your anger or of those who are astray," Allah says, "This is for My servant, and for My servant is what he has asked." This hadith indicates that the beginning of al-Fatihah is For this reason, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would recite al-Fatihah aloud in the prayers where recitation is loud, but he would not recite the Basmalah aloud. This indicates, or this is another proof, that the Basmalah is not part of al-Fatihah. However, reciting it silently is a recommended practice (sunnah). Yes.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.