What is the ruling on the follower reciting al-Fatihah?
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The questioner : Many questions have come in asking about the imam reciting Surat al-Fatihah in the tarawih prayer: does it suffice for the follower or not?
The Shaykh : Does the imam’s recitation in the tarawih prayer or in the obligatory prayer suffice for the follower, such that he is not required to recite? This is a point of disagreement among the scholars:
Some say: The imam’s recitation is the recitation of the follower in both the secret and the loud prayers, and if the follower stands silent, even in the secret prayer, without reciting anything, his prayer is valid.
And some say: The imam’s recitation in the loud prayer suffices for the follower’s recitation, because the follower is commanded to listen, so there is no need for him to recite. For this reason, when the imam finishes reciting al-Fatihah, what does the follower say? He says: Ameen. So the imam’s recitation is as if it were his own recitation, and for this reason he says Ameen to the supplication at the end of al-Fatihah.
And some of the scholars say: It is obligatory to recite al-Fatihah, even for the follower in the loud prayer. And this opinion is closer to the truth in my view than the other two opinions. And supporting this is what the people of the Sunan narrated from the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
And this is an explicit text regarding the loud prayer, and that the follower must recite, even in the loud prayer. As for the general texts, it is clear, such as his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam) and others.
So the correct view is that the follower must recite al-Fatihah, whether he is in the secret prayer or the loud prayer.
The Shaykh : Does the imam’s recitation in the tarawih prayer or in the obligatory prayer suffice for the follower, such that he is not required to recite? This is a point of disagreement among the scholars:
Some say: The imam’s recitation is the recitation of the follower in both the secret and the loud prayers, and if the follower stands silent, even in the secret prayer, without reciting anything, his prayer is valid.
And some say: The imam’s recitation in the loud prayer suffices for the follower’s recitation, because the follower is commanded to listen, so there is no need for him to recite. For this reason, when the imam finishes reciting al-Fatihah, what does the follower say? He says: Ameen. So the imam’s recitation is as if it were his own recitation, and for this reason he says Ameen to the supplication at the end of al-Fatihah.
And some of the scholars say: It is obligatory to recite al-Fatihah, even for the follower in the loud prayer. And this opinion is closer to the truth in my view than the other two opinions. And supporting this is what the people of the Sunan narrated from the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
He prayed the Fajr prayer with them, and when he finished, he said: Why am I competing with the Qur'an? 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.
صلى بهم صلاة الفجر فلما انصرف قال : ما لي أنازع القرآن ؟ لعلكم تقرؤون خلف إمامكم قالوا نعم قال لاتفعلوا إلا بأم القرآن فإنه لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بهاAnd this is an explicit text regarding the loud prayer, and that the follower must recite, even in the loud prayer. As for the general texts, it is clear, such as his saying (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 الكتابSo the correct view is that the follower must recite al-Fatihah, whether he is in the secret prayer or the loud prayer.