The Prayer of One Who Knows Only al-Fatihah
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Q: My mother prays, but she does not know the prayer in its entirety; she only knows al-Fatihah. When I teach her, she forgets it quickly. Is her prayer valid?
A: Yes, her prayer is valid. It is obligatory for you and your brothers to teach her and to continue teaching her at many times until the knowledge settles in her heart. Al-Fatihah is sufficient, praise be to Allah. If she knows al-Fatihah, it suffices. If it is easy for her to learn some of the short surahs, such as:[Al-Ikhlas 112:1] [Al-Falaq 113:1] [An-Nas 114:1] and other short surahs, and if it is easy for you to teach them to her, that is a great good. With persistence and observation, she will memorize them, if Allah wills. Even the one who does not know al-Fatihah has a valid prayer if he is unable to learn it. He must recite whatever is easy for him from the Qur'an, even if it is only some verses. If he is unable to do that, he should glorify Allah, praise Him, say Allahu Akbar, and say La ilaha illa Allah in the place of recitation, then say Allahu Akbar and bow. This is based on the saying of the Exalted: [Al-Muzzammil: 20] and His saying: [Al-Taghabun: 16]. It is also based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the one who performed his prayer incorrectly: Sahih Muslim 397a, and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) to the one who was unable to recite the Qur'an, "Say: Sunan Ibn Majah 3878Sahih (Darussalam)."
It is not permissible to abandon the prayer ever. Rather, a person must pray according to his condition. However, he is obligated to learn and to fear Allah in this matter. It is obligatory for the woman's children and relatives, if they know, to teach her and guide her. Likewise, the man's children and relatives should teach their father if he is ignorant, and they should teach their brothers. Likewise, every student of knowledge should teach the ignorant. And likewise, all believers should cooperate in righteousness and piety, as the Exalted said: [Al-Ma'idah: 2]. And the Exalted said: [Al-Asr: 1-3].
Therefore, it is obligatory for you, O questioner, and your brothers to teach her, to be patient, and to be characterized by forbearance and kind words, not by cursing or harshness, but by a good manner at appropriate times, whether night or day, until she learns, with constant persistence. Likewise, your aunts and maternal aunts should be treated kindly. This world is a place of work, a place of teaching, a place of cooperation, and a place of obligation. We ask Allah for guidance and success for everyone.
A: Yes, her prayer is valid. It is obligatory for you and your brothers to teach her and to continue teaching her at many times until the knowledge settles in her heart. Al-Fatihah is sufficient, praise be to Allah. If she knows al-Fatihah, it suffices. If it is easy for her to learn some of the short surahs, such as:
Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌSay, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِSay, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِso recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an
فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْand then recite whatever you conveniently can from the Qur'an
ثم اقرأ ما تيسر معك من القرآنSubhan-Allah walhamdu lillahi, wa la ilaha illallahu, wa Allahu Akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil-‘Aliyil-‘Azim
سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العلي العظيمIt is not permissible to abandon the prayer ever. Rather, a person must pray according to his condition. However, he is obligated to learn and to fear Allah in this matter. It is obligatory for the woman's children and relatives, if they know, to teach her and guide her. Likewise, the man's children and relatives should teach their father if he is ignorant, and they should teach their brothers. Likewise, every student of knowledge should teach the ignorant. And likewise, all believers should cooperate in righteousness and piety, as the Exalted said:
cooperate in righteousness and piety
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى(1) By time, (2) Indeed, mankind is in loss, (3) Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
وَالْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ Therefore, it is obligatory for you, O questioner, and your brothers to teach her, to be patient, and to be characterized by forbearance and kind words, not by cursing or harshness, but by a good manner at appropriate times, whether night or day, until she learns, with constant persistence. Likewise, your aunts and maternal aunts should be treated kindly. This world is a place of work, a place of teaching, a place of cooperation, and a place of obligation. We ask Allah for guidance and success for everyone.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.