Is there anything required of me regarding the missed prayers in which I did not recite al-Fatihah?
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Question:
This questioner is your brother in Allah: Muhammad Mahmoud, residing in Jeddah, says: Your Eminence, when I was in the Friday prayer, the imam said: It is obligatory for the ma'mum to listen to the imam's recitation when the imam recites, even if he does not recite al-Fatihah. In fact, I prayed several prayers, not many, without reciting al-Fatihah, specifically when the imam does not give an opportunity and recites immediately after al-Fatihah, so I listened to him. I then inquired about the matter and learned that it is obligatory for me to recite al-Fatihah. So, is there anything required of me regarding the missed prayers in which I did not recite al-Fatihah?
Answer:
The scholars differed on this, and the majority of the people of knowledge hold that al-Fatihah is not obligatory for the ma'mum, and that the imam performs it on his behalf, which is sufficient.
The second opinion is that it is necessary to recite al-Fatihah, and this is the correct view.
So the correct view is that the ma'mum must recite al-Fatihah; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam) and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Abi Dawud 823Da'if (Al-Albani) We said: Yes, he said: Sunan Abi Dawud 823Da'if (Al-Albani).
So it is obligatory for the ma'mum to recite it even if the imam does not pause; he recites it, then listens. This is what is obligatory. However, if one left it out due to ignorance, because some people of knowledge issued a fatwa that he should leave it out, or if he left it out due to forgetfulness, his prayer is valid, and he does not have to make it up. You do not have to make it up because you left it out due to what you heard from some people of knowledge. Likewise, if the ma'mum left it out due to forgetfulness, he does not have to make it up. And likewise, if the ma'mum arrives and the imam is in ruku', and he is in ruku' at that time, he bows with him and al-Fatihah is dropped from him. Yes.
The presenter: The slight pause by some imams, Your Eminence, after al-Fatihah to give an opportunity for recitation?
The Shaykh: The matter is broad. If he pauses, there is no harm, and if he does not pause, there is no harm. He recites it, whether the imam pauses or does not pause. The imam has a choice; if he pauses, it is good, and if he does not pause, there is no blame; because the hadiths regarding the pause are not clear, and there is no authentic hadith indicating the pause. Yes.
My intention is the pause, meaning: after al-Fatihah. As for the silence after the takbirat al-ihram, that is a recommended practice. One remains silent until he comes to the opening supplication. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would come to the opening supplication after the takbirah—the first takbirah, the takbirat al-ihram—then after this, he would seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, and mention Allah between himself and himself, then he would recite al-Fatihah aloud in the loud prayers, and quietly in the quiet prayers. The ma'mum likewise opens with the opening supplication after the takbirat al-ihram before his imam begins to recite. And he recites al-Fatihah; if his imam paused after al-Fatihah, he recites in that time, and if he did not have a pause, he recites even if the imam is reciting, then he listens after that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
This questioner is your brother in Allah: Muhammad Mahmoud, residing in Jeddah, says: Your Eminence, when I was in the Friday prayer, the imam said: It is obligatory for the ma'mum to listen to the imam's recitation when the imam recites, even if he does not recite al-Fatihah. In fact, I prayed several prayers, not many, without reciting al-Fatihah, specifically when the imam does not give an opportunity and recites immediately after al-Fatihah, so I listened to him. I then inquired about the matter and learned that it is obligatory for me to recite al-Fatihah. So, is there anything required of me regarding the missed prayers in which I did not recite al-Fatihah?
Answer:
The scholars differed on this, and the majority of the people of knowledge hold that al-Fatihah is not obligatory for the ma'mum, and that the imam performs it on his behalf, which is sufficient.
The second opinion is that it is necessary to recite al-Fatihah, and this is the correct view.
So the correct view is that the ma'mum must recite al-Fatihah; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
There is no Salat for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab.
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابPerhaps you recite behind your imam?
لعلكم تقرؤون خلف إمامكم؟Do not do so except when it is Fatihat al-Kitab, for he who does not recite it is not credited with having prayed.
لا تفعلوا إلا بفاتحة الكتاب، فإنه لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بهاSo it is obligatory for the ma'mum to recite it even if the imam does not pause; he recites it, then listens. This is what is obligatory. However, if one left it out due to ignorance, because some people of knowledge issued a fatwa that he should leave it out, or if he left it out due to forgetfulness, his prayer is valid, and he does not have to make it up. You do not have to make it up because you left it out due to what you heard from some people of knowledge. Likewise, if the ma'mum left it out due to forgetfulness, he does not have to make it up. And likewise, if the ma'mum arrives and the imam is in ruku', and he is in ruku' at that time, he bows with him and al-Fatihah is dropped from him. Yes.
The presenter: The slight pause by some imams, Your Eminence, after al-Fatihah to give an opportunity for recitation?
The Shaykh: The matter is broad. If he pauses, there is no harm, and if he does not pause, there is no harm. He recites it, whether the imam pauses or does not pause. The imam has a choice; if he pauses, it is good, and if he does not pause, there is no blame; because the hadiths regarding the pause are not clear, and there is no authentic hadith indicating the pause. Yes.
My intention is the pause, meaning: after al-Fatihah. As for the silence after the takbirat al-ihram, that is a recommended practice. One remains silent until he comes to the opening supplication. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would come to the opening supplication after the takbirah—the first takbirah, the takbirat al-ihram—then after this, he would seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, and mention Allah between himself and himself, then he would recite al-Fatihah aloud in the loud prayers, and quietly in the quiet prayers. The ma'mum likewise opens with the opening supplication after the takbirat al-ihram before his imam begins to recite. And he recites al-Fatihah; if his imam paused after al-Fatihah, he recites in that time, and if he did not have a pause, he recites even if the imam is reciting, then he listens after that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.