Is it obligatory to recite al-Fatihah for the follower in the loud and quiet prayers, and if the imam bows and the follower has not recited it?
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The questioner : Is it obligatory for the follower to recite al-Fatihah, whether in the quiet or the loud prayer?
And if the imam bows before he recites it, what is the ruling?
And does the imam sin if he bows before the follower has recited al-Fatihah? Please inform us, may Allah guide you.
The Shaykh : This issue is a matter of scholarly disagreement:
First: Is al-Fatihah obligatory or not obligatory?
Some scholars said that al-Fatihah is not obligatory for any person praying, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Muzzammil 73:20], and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) to the man: . But this is not the correct position, because the saying: [Al-Muzzammil 73:20] was explained by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam).
Second: Some scholars say that al-Fatihah is not obligatory for the follower in any case, neither in the quiet nor the loud prayer. This is also weak, because the hadith,Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam), is general.
Some scholars say that it is obligatory for the follower in the quiet prayer but not in the loud prayer, because the imam recites for him and for those behind him. The evidence that he recites for him and for those behind him is that they rely on his recitation for the recitation of everyone.
Some scholars say that it is obligatory for every person praying, the imam, the follower, and the one praying alone, in both the quiet and the loud prayer. This is the closest of the opinions to the truth,. This is an explicit text regarding a loud prayer, supported by the generality of the wording, except that one issue is excluded from this:
The one who joins the prayer late, if he catches the imam in bowing, says the takbir of entering prayer and bows, and al-Fatihah is dropped from him. The evidence for this is the hadith of Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) when he entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was praying with the people and was in bowing. Abu Bakrah hurried, said the takbir, and entered the prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to him:Sunan Abi Dawud 683Sahih (Al-Albani), and he did not order him to repeat the rak'ah or to repeat the prayer.
From the perspective of reasoning, we say: This man did not catch the standing, which is the place of recitation. When the place is dropped, the condition is dropped. The evidence is that if a person's hand is cut off at the elbow, the washing of the upper arm is dropped from him, because the place of purification has vanished. So, what is stronger in my view is the opinion that it is obligatory to recite al-Fatihah for every person praying without distinction, except for the one who joins late. If he comes and the imam is bowing, it is dropped from him. Likewise, if he comes and the imam has not bowed, but he is unable to recite al-Fatihah, let him bow and he owes nothing.
And if the imam bows before he recites it, what is the ruling?
And does the imam sin if he bows before the follower has recited al-Fatihah? Please inform us, may Allah guide you.
The Shaykh : This issue is a matter of scholarly disagreement:
First: Is al-Fatihah obligatory or not obligatory?
Some scholars said that al-Fatihah is not obligatory for any person praying, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an
فاقرؤوا ما تيسر من القرآنRead whatever is easy for you of the Qur'an
اقرأ ما تيسر لك من القرآنwhat is easy [for you] of the Qur'an
ما تيسر من القرآنThere is no Salat for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab.
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابSecond: Some scholars say that al-Fatihah is not obligatory for the follower in any case, neither in the quiet nor the loud prayer. This is also weak, because the hadith,
There is no Salat for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab.
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابSome scholars say that it is obligatory for the follower in the quiet prayer but not in the loud prayer, because the imam recites for him and for those behind him. The evidence that he recites for him and for those behind him is that they rely on his recitation for the recitation of everyone.
Some scholars say that it is obligatory for every person praying, the imam, the follower, and the one praying alone, in both the quiet and the loud prayer. This is the closest of the opinions to the truth,
Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned away from the Fajr prayer one day and asked the Companions: "Did you recite 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."
لأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم انصرف من صلاة الصبح ذات يوم فسأل الصحابة: هل قرأتم خلف إمامكم؟ قالوا: نعم، قال: لا تفعلوا إلا بأم القرآن فإنه لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بهاThe one who joins the prayer late, if he catches the imam in bowing, says the takbir of entering prayer and bows, and al-Fatihah is dropped from him. The evidence for this is the hadith of Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) when he entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was praying with the people and was in bowing. Abu Bakrah hurried, said the takbir, and entered the prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to him:
May Allah increase your eagerness! But do not do it again.
زادك الله حرصًا ولا تعدFrom the perspective of reasoning, we say: This man did not catch the standing, which is the place of recitation. When the place is dropped, the condition is dropped. The evidence is that if a person's hand is cut off at the elbow, the washing of the upper arm is dropped from him, because the place of purification has vanished. So, what is stronger in my view is the opinion that it is obligatory to recite al-Fatihah for every person praying without distinction, except for the one who joins late. If he comes and the imam is bowing, it is dropped from him. Likewise, if he comes and the imam has not bowed, but he is unable to recite al-Fatihah, let him bow and he owes nothing.