If the imam does not leave time for al-Fatihah, when does the ma'mum recite al-Fatihah? Does he recite it while the imam is reciting, or does he listen to the imam's recitation and not recite al-Fatihah?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, if the imam does not leave time for al-Fatihah, when does the ma'mum recite al-Fatihah? Does he recite it while the imam is reciting, or does he listen to the imam's recitation and not recite al-Fatihah?
The Shaykh : This issue is a matter of scholarly disagreement among the scholars. That is, if the prayer is one of the loud prayers and the imam recites al-Fatihah, is it dropped for the ma'mum? Some scholars said: It is dropped, because the imam's recitation is the recitation for the ma'mum if the prayer is one of the loud prayers. Evidence for this is that the imam recites al-Fatihah and the ma'mum says "Ameen," and the one who says "Ameen" on a supplication is like the one who made the supplication, by the evidence of the statement of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, regarding Musa and Harun:[Yunus 10:89] even though the one who made the supplication was only Musa. Musa (peace be upon him) said: [Yunus 10:88-89] So Allah, the Exalted, made the supplication of Musa a supplication for him and for Harun. The scholars said this was because Harun was saying "Ameen." Accordingly, if your imam recites al-Fatihah and you say "Ameen" on the supplication, then his recitation is your recitation, and there is no need for you to recite. This is the choice of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him). Other scholars said: No, recitation is obligatory, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam) And the word "whoever" in the saying: is one of the forms of generality, so it includes every person praying: the imam, the ma'mum, and the one praying alone. Also, the people of the Sunan narrated from the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him): And this was in the Fajr prayer, and the Fajr prayer is one of the loud prayers. This view, which I mean the obligation of reciting al-Fatihah for the ma'mum in the loud and quiet prayers, is closer to the truth in my opinion. If it were not for the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit which I quoted for you, the view would be what Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, which is that the imam's recitation in the loud prayer suffices the ma'mum from reciting. We now return to the answer to the question. We say: According to the stronger view, recite al-Fatihah even if the imam is reciting. But is it better to recite al-Fatihah when the imam is reciting al-Fatihah and listen to his recitation of what follows, or is it better to listen to al-Fatihah and recite al-Fatihah while the imam is reciting what follows? Which is better?
The student: The first one.
The Shaykh : What is the first?
The student: The second.
The Shaykh : What is the second?
The student: That you listen to the imam...
The Shaykh : Yes, it is better to listen to the imam in the recitation of al-Fatihah and recite al-Fatihah after that. Why? Because the imam's recitation of al-Fatihah is the recitation of a pillar, so it is better to participate with him in it. And the imam's recitation of what is after al-Fatihah is a recommended practice, so your recitation of al-Fatihah when the imam is reciting the recommended practice is better than your recitation of it when the imam is reciting the pillar. Yes.
The questioner : Completion of the question.
The Shaykh : This one says, if you please, Your Eminence, what do you say about the Prophet? Yes, I say, my brother, it is not permissible for a person to swear by other than Allah.
The questioner : Right now he is standing behind the imam. He recited al-Fatihah after al-Fatihah. I, of course, I want to recite, so he is reciting and I want to hear the recitation. I sent him away.
The Shaykh : No, no, do not listen to his recitation. Recite al-Fatihah first, then listen to his recitation after you finish al-Fatihah. Did you understand, my brother? Do not return to swearing by other than Allah. One does not swear except by Allah.
The Shaykh : This issue is a matter of scholarly disagreement among the scholars. That is, if the prayer is one of the loud prayers and the imam recites al-Fatihah, is it dropped for the ma'mum? Some scholars said: It is dropped, because the imam's recitation is the recitation for the ma'mum if the prayer is one of the loud prayers. Evidence for this is that the imam recites al-Fatihah and the ma'mum says "Ameen," and the one who says "Ameen" on a supplication is like the one who made the supplication, by the evidence of the statement of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, regarding Musa and Harun:
Your supplication has been answered
قد أجيبت دعوتكماOur Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment." (89) [Allah] said, "Your supplication has been answered.
ربنا اطمس على أموالهم واشدد على قلوبهم فلا يؤمنوا حتى يروا العذاب الأليم قال قد أجيبت دعوتكماThere is no Salat for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab.
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابAnd whoever does not recite
ومن لم يقرأThat the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with them the Fajr prayer, and when he turned from his prayer and finished it, he said: Perhaps you are reciting behind your imam? They said: Yes. He said: Do not do so except with the Mother of the Qur'an, for there is no prayer for one who does not recite it.
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم صلى بهم صلاة الصبح فلما انفتل من صلاته وانتهى منها قال: لعلكم تقرأون خلف إمامكم قالوا نعم قال: لا تفعلوا إلا بأم القرآن فإنه لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بهاThe student: The first one.
The Shaykh : What is the first?
The student: The second.
The Shaykh : What is the second?
The student: That you listen to the imam...
The Shaykh : Yes, it is better to listen to the imam in the recitation of al-Fatihah and recite al-Fatihah after that. Why? Because the imam's recitation of al-Fatihah is the recitation of a pillar, so it is better to participate with him in it. And the imam's recitation of what is after al-Fatihah is a recommended practice, so your recitation of al-Fatihah when the imam is reciting the recommended practice is better than your recitation of it when the imam is reciting the pillar. Yes.
The questioner : Completion of the question.
The Shaykh : This one says, if you please, Your Eminence, what do you say about the Prophet? Yes, I say, my brother, it is not permissible for a person to swear by other than Allah.
The questioner : Right now he is standing behind the imam. He recited al-Fatihah after al-Fatihah. I, of course, I want to recite, so he is reciting and I want to hear the recitation. I sent him away.
The Shaykh : No, no, do not listen to his recitation. Recite al-Fatihah first, then listen to his recitation after you finish al-Fatihah. Did you understand, my brother? Do not return to swearing by other than Allah. One does not swear except by Allah.