The Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen cited two pieces of evidence to prove that the Basmala is not part of al-Fatihah: a verbal proof and a practical proof. As for the verbal proof, it is his saying, peace and blessings be upon him:
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The questioner: Our Shaykh, if you would permit, Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen in one of his fatwas yesterday on the radio.
The Shaykh : Who?
The questioner: Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner: On the radio yesterday, he cited two pieces of evidence to prove that the Basmala is not part of al-Fatihah. He said, a verbal proof and a practical proof. The verbal proof: إذا قال العبد : الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ؛ قال : حَمِدَني عبدي When the servant says: All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds; He says: My servant has praised Me to the end of the hadith. This is evidence that it is not part of al-Fatihah. The practical proof: that the Prophet - peace and blessings be upon him - did not recite it aloud in the loud recitations.
The Shaykh: The hadith is that he ... Allah upon it recently the surah after he said I ... Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him - ... then he raised his head and said, then he said: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, [Al-Kawthar 108:1] to the end. So what do we do with this? Then he said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2953Sahih (Darussalam), he did not mention In the name of Allah.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh: Because he means by prayer the supplication[Al-Fatihah 1:2] ... so this is not explicit in that the Basmala is not part of the surah, unlike "Allah revealed to me recently a surah" to the end. This is explicit.
The questioner: What is your opinion on the second piece of evidence he cited?
The Shaykh: The Prophet not reciting it aloud?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh: His not reciting it aloud is a prescription, just as he does not recite al-Fatihah itself aloud in the secret prayers.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: This has no relation to the issue.
The Shaykh: ... meaning this statement is said by a person as a precaution.
The questioner : Yes.
Another questioner: Especially, O Shaykh, in this time with traffic accidents ... and so on, meaning there is no need, meaning ... when I arrive in Makkah, I say, "Praise be to Allah who kept me alive."
The Shaykh: ... now the strangers from the pilgrims ... .
The Shaykh : Who?
The questioner: Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner: On the radio yesterday, he cited two pieces of evidence to prove that the Basmala is not part of al-Fatihah. He said, a verbal proof and a practical proof. The verbal proof: إذا قال العبد : الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ؛ قال : حَمِدَني عبدي When the servant says: All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds; He says: My servant has praised Me to the end of the hadith. This is evidence that it is not part of al-Fatihah. The practical proof: that the Prophet - peace and blessings be upon him - did not recite it aloud in the loud recitations.
The Shaykh: The hadith is that he ... Allah upon it recently the surah after he said I ... Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him - ... then he raised his head and said
Indeed, Allah revealed to me recently a surah
لقد أنزل الله عليَّ آنفًا سورةIndeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar.
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَI have divided the Salat between Myself and My slaves into two halves
قسمت الصلاة بيني وبين عبدي نصفينThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh: Because he means by prayer the supplication
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَIn the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِThe questioner: What is your opinion on the second piece of evidence he cited?
The Shaykh: The Prophet not reciting it aloud?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh: His not reciting it aloud is a prescription, just as he does not recite al-Fatihah itself aloud in the secret prayers.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: This has no relation to the issue.
The Shaykh: ... meaning this statement is said by a person as a precaution.
The questioner : Yes.
Another questioner: Especially, O Shaykh, in this time with traffic accidents ... and so on, meaning there is no need, meaning ... when I arrive in Makkah, I say, "Praise be to Allah who kept me alive."
The Shaykh: ... now the strangers from the pilgrims ... .
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.