The ruling on the prayer of one who does not memorize anything other than al-Fatihah
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Question:
Our brother asks and says: My mother prays, but she does not know the prayer in its entirety; she only knows al-Fatihah. And when I teach her, she forgets quickly. Is her prayer valid? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
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-Falaq 113:1] and [An-Nas 114:1] and [Al-Ikhlas 112:1] 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, his prayer is valid if he is unable to learn it; he recites what is easy for him, even if it is only some verses. If he is unable to do so, he glorifies Allah, praises Allah, magnifies Him, and declares His oneness in the place of recitation, then he says takbir and bows. [At-Taghabun: 16].
It is not permissible to abandon the prayer ever. Rather, he prays according to his condition, but he must learn. It is obligatory for him to learn and to fear Allah in that. It is obligatory for the woman’s children to teach her if they know how to teach her and guide her. Likewise, they teach their father if he is ignorant and they know. They teach their brothers. The student of knowledge teaches the ignorant one. Thus, the believers cooperate in righteousness and piety, as Allah said: : [Al-Ma'idah: 2]. And He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Asr: 1-3].
Therefore, it is obligatory for you to teach her. You and your brothers teach her, and be patient with gentleness and kind words, not with scolding or harshness, but with kind words, good manner, and gentleness at appropriate times, whether night or day, until she learns, with constant persistence until she learns. Likewise, your sisters, and likewise your aunts and maternal aunts. Be good to everyone. 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.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.
Our brother asks and says: My mother prays, but she does not know the prayer in its entirety; she only knows al-Fatihah. And when I teach her, she forgets quickly. Is her prayer valid? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
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, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
قل أعوذ برب الفلقSay, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
قل أعوذ برب الناسSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قل هو الله أحدSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْIt is not permissible to abandon the prayer ever. Rather, he prays according to his condition, but he must learn. It is obligatory for him to learn and to fear Allah in that. It is obligatory for the woman’s children to teach her if they know how to teach her and guide her. Likewise, they teach their father if he is ignorant and they know. They teach their brothers. The student of knowledge teaches the ignorant one. Thus, the believers cooperate in righteousness and piety, as Allah 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 الإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِTherefore, it is obligatory for you to teach her. You and your brothers teach her, and be patient with gentleness and kind words, not with scolding or harshness, but with kind words, good manner, and gentleness at appropriate times, whether night or day, until she learns, with constant persistence until she learns. Likewise, your sisters, and likewise your aunts and maternal aunts. Be good to everyone. 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.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.