If a person is a ma'mum, is it sufficient for him to rely on the imam's recitation?
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The Shaykh : Now, if a person is a ma'mum, is it sufficient for him to rely on the imam's recitation?
The answer: There is scholarly disagreement on this. Some said that the imam's recitation suffices for the ma'mum's recitation in all cases, in both the silent and the loud prayers.
Others said that it does not suffice for the ma'mum's recitation, neither in the silent nor in the loud prayers.
Others said that it suffices for the ma'mum's recitation in the loud prayers, but not in the silent ones.
What appears to me from the evidence is that the imam's recitation does not exempt the ma'mum from reciting, neither in the silent nor in the loud prayers.
And that it is obligatory for the ma'mum to recite al-Fatihah in the silent and the loud prayers, due to the generality of the evidence indicating this, such as the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam), and the hadith of Abu Hurayrah Sunan Ibn Majah 841Hasan (Darussalam), and this is absolute.
If someone were to say: Why do we not choose the middle position in this issue and say that the imam bears the recitation for the ma'mum in the loud prayers, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-A'raf 7:204].
So if the imam recites, I am commanded to listen, and my recitation is contrary to this command.
The answer is: This position must be adopted, were it not that the compilers of the Sunan narrated from the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the Fajr prayer with his Companions, and when he finished, he said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 311Sahih (Darussalam).
And this hadith is explicit in that the imam does not bear the recitation of al-Fatihah for the ma'mum in the loud prayer.
And since the hadith indicates this, then the verse[Al-A'raf 7:204] is to be understood as applying to other than the recitation of al-Fatihah, and that if the imam is reciting, it is not permissible for the ma'mum to recite anything other than al-Fatihah, such as the verses or surahs that the imam recites, or others.
The answer: There is scholarly disagreement on this. Some said that the imam's recitation suffices for the ma'mum's recitation in all cases, in both the silent and the loud prayers.
Others said that it does not suffice for the ma'mum's recitation, neither in the silent nor in the loud prayers.
Others said that it suffices for the ma'mum's recitation in the loud prayers, but not in the silent ones.
What appears to me from the evidence is that the imam's recitation does not exempt the ma'mum from reciting, neither in the silent nor in the loud prayers.
And that it is obligatory for the ma'mum to recite al-Fatihah in the silent and the loud prayers, due to the generality of the evidence indicating this, such as the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit:
There is no Salat for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab.
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابEvery prayer in which Fatihatil-Kitab (the Opening of the Book) is not recited, it is deficient
كل صلاة لا يقرأ فيها بفاتحة الكتاب فهي خداجIf someone were to say: Why do we not choose the middle position in this issue and say that the imam bears the recitation for the ma'mum in the loud prayers, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُواSo if the imam recites, I am commanded to listen, and my recitation is contrary to this command.
The answer is: This position must be adopted, were it not that the compilers of the Sunan narrated from the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the Fajr prayer with his Companions, and when he finished, he said:
Ubadah bin As-Samit narrated: "Allah's Messenger prayed the Subh prayer, and he had difficulty with the recitation. When turned (after finishing) he said: 'I think that you are reciting behind your Imam?'" He said: "We said: 'Yes, Messenger of Allah, by Allah!' He said: 'Do not do that, except for Umm Al-Kitab, for there is no Salat for one who does not recite it.'"
لعلكم تقرؤون خلف إمامكم؟ قالوا: نعم. قال: لا تفعلوا إلا بأم القرآن، فإنه لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بهاAnd this hadith is explicit in that the imam does not bear the recitation of al-Fatihah for the ma'mum in the loud prayer.
And since the hadith indicates this, then the verse