The ruling on the follower reciting al-Fatihah

Question:
This questioner asks: What is the ruling on the follower reciting al-Fatihah? And if it is obligatory, how do you reconcile it with listening to the Qur'an? Because I have heard some of the brothers say that it is not permissible for the imam to remain silent after reciting al-Fatihah, but rather he should continue reciting.

Answer:
The ruling on the follower reciting is that it is obligatory; it is obligatory for the follower to recite al-Fatihah. This is the correct view. Most of the scholars held that it is not obligatory for him, considering the imam's recitation sufficient. However, the correct view is that it is obligatory for him in both secret and loud prayers. This is based on the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): We said: Yes. He said: This is an authentic hadith narrated by Ahmad and others. It is also based on the generality of the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): However, for the follower, it is obligatory if he leaves it out due to ignorance or forgetfulness, or if he did not arrive until the imam was bowing and he bowed with him, in which case it is dropped from him. This is as mentioned in the hadith of Abu Bakrah al-Thaqafi (may Allah be pleased with him) that he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was bowing, so he bowed before reaching the row, then he entered the row. He mentioned this to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) after the salam, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: and he did not order him to make up the rak'ah.
As for the imam and the one praying alone, it is a pillar in their case, and it is necessary. If the imam or the one praying alone leaves out the recitation—reciting al-Fatihah—his prayer is invalid if he did so intentionally. If he forgot it in a rak'ah, he performs a rak'ah in place of the one in which he forgot it and prostrates for forgetfulness.
As for the follower, it is obligatory for him. If he leaves it out due to forgetfulness or ignorance, his prayer is valid because he is following the imam. The reconciliation between this and the texts regarding listening is that those texts are specific, while the texts regarding recitation are general. Therefore, reciting al-Fatihah is specified from the general texts. As for the imam, if he remains silent after al-Fatihah, there is no harm. If he continues reciting, there is no harm, because no clear text has been established regarding this. It is mentioned in some hadiths that he remains silent after saying: [al-Fatihah:7] and in some others that he does not remain silent after the end of the recitation. If he remains silent after al-Fatihah, there is no harm. If he continues reciting, there is no harm. The matter is broad—if Allah wills. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.