When the imam says: “You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help” in the recitation of al-Fatihah, the ma'mum says
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The questioner : We return to a message sent by a listener of the program, Gharim Allah al-Maliki. We reviewed some of his questions in a previous episode, and we are pleased to review the remaining questions of the listener Gharim Allah in this episode. The listener says: When the imam says [Al-Fatihah 1:5] in the recitation of al-Fatihah, the ma'mum says “We sought help from Allah”. How authentic is that, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : What is prescribed for the ma'mum is to listen to the recitation of his imam and pay attention to it, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-A'raf 7:204] and due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): This is what is prescribed for the ma'mum. He does not make du'a between the verses that his imam is reciting, because that is contrary to listening. Furthermore, his saying “We sought help from Allah” has no meaning in this place, because the imam is informing that he worships Allah and seeks His help while leading these people. So his statement is a report about himself and about those behind him. Thus, the imam, by saying [Al-Fatihah 1:5], is stating that about himself and about those behind him. For this reason, when he concludes al-Fatihah by saying “Ameen,” we also say “Ameen,” which indicates that his recitation, which he recites aloud, is a recitation for us.
Moreover, the ma'mum will recite al-Fatihah after his imam has finished with it, because it is a pillar in his case, just as it is a pillar in the case of one who is not a ma'mum, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam) And because he (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the Fajr prayer with his Companions one day, and when he finished, he said: Sunan Abi Dawud 823Da'if (Al-Albani) They said: Yes. He said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 311Sahih (Darussalam) If you are going to recite it, O ma'mum, then there is no need for you to say “I sought help from Allah”.
Furthermore, we say that the verse contains worship and seeking help. So how do you say “We sought help from Allah” and not say “We worshipped Allah,” thereby separating two things that Allah has combined? The conclusion is that this phrase has no meaning whatsoever. It is incumbent upon whoever hears one of the ma'mums saying it to clarify to him that it is not prescribed.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He magnify your reward for what you have clarified for us and for our brother listeners.
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
إياك نعبد وإياك نستعينThe Shaykh : What is prescribed for the ma'mum is to listen to the recitation of his imam and pay attention to it, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.
وإذا قرئ القرأن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا لعلكم ترحمونWhen he recites, then be silent
إذا قرأ فأنصتواIt is You we worship and You we ask for help.
إياك نعبد وإياك نستعينMoreover, the ma'mum will recite al-Fatihah after his imam has finished with it, because it is a pillar in his case, just as it is a pillar in the case of one who is not a ma'mum, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
There is no Salat for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab.
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابPerhaps you recite behind your imam?
لعلكم تقرؤون خلف إمامكمDo not do that, except for Umm Al-Kitab, for there is no Salat for one who does not recite it.
لا تفعلوا إلا بأم القرأن فإنه لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بهاFurthermore, we say that the verse contains worship and seeking help. So how do you say “We sought help from Allah” and not say “We worshipped Allah,” thereby separating two things that Allah has combined? The conclusion is that this phrase has no meaning whatsoever. It is incumbent upon whoever hears one of the ma'mums saying it to clarify to him that it is not prescribed.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He magnify your reward for what you have clarified for us and for our brother listeners.