What is the ruling on the follower reciting al-Fatihah in the loud prayers?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. I do not know about reciting al-Fatihah in the loud prayers.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Reciting al-Fatihah in the prayer behind the imam: if he has started reciting the surah, do I recite al-Fatihah?
The Shaykh : Reciting al-Fatihah in the prayer is a pillar without which the prayer is not valid, and the evidence is general with no exception. Therefore, it is a pillar for the imam, the follower, and the one praying alone, and in both the quiet and the loud prayers. This is the correct view in this issue, and it is the school of al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him).
And the evidence for this is the general statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his companions):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam) As for the hadith Sunan ad-Daraqutni 3:309, it is a mursal (report missing the Companion link) and weak.
Someone might say: In the loud prayers, recitation is not obligatory for the follower, based on the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his companions):[Al-A'raf 7:204] Just as the imam takes on the burden of the sutrah (barrier) placed in front of the follower, so he takes on the burden of recitation for him if the prayer is a loud one.
The answer is: This is a good opinion, were it not for the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his companions) prayed Fajr with them, and when he finished his prayer he said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 311Sahih (Darussalam).
This is an explicit text that reciting al-Fatihah is obligatory for the follower, even in the loud prayers. So when the imam finishes reciting al-Fatihah, start reciting al-Fatihah and continue with it until you complete it. Even if the imam starts reciting while you are in the middle of your recitation, there is no harm. Yes.
The questioner : Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Reciting al-Fatihah in the prayer behind the imam: if he has started reciting the surah, do I recite al-Fatihah?
The Shaykh : Reciting al-Fatihah in the prayer is a pillar without which the prayer is not valid, and the evidence is general with no exception. Therefore, it is a pillar for the imam, the follower, and the one praying alone, and in both the quiet and the loud prayers. This is the correct view in this issue, and it is the school of al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him).
And the evidence for this is the general statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his companions):
There is no Salat for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab.
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابWhoever has an imam, the recitation of the imam is his recitation
من كان له إمام فقراءة الإمام له قراءةSomeone might say: In the loud prayers, recitation is not obligatory for the follower, based on the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his companions):
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَThe answer is: This is a good opinion, were it not for the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his companions) prayed Fajr with them, and when he finished his prayer 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 بهاThis is an explicit text that reciting al-Fatihah is obligatory for the follower, even in the loud prayers. So when the imam finishes reciting al-Fatihah, start reciting al-Fatihah and continue with it until you complete it. Even if the imam starts reciting while you are in the middle of your recitation, there is no harm. Yes.
The questioner : Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.