Ruling on performing voluntary prayers with only Surat al-Fatihah
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Q274: The questioner says: She is advanced in age and does not memorize except a little of the chapters of the Qur'an. Is it permissible for her to restrict herself to reciting al-Fatihah in voluntary prayers?
A274: Reciting al-Fatihah in voluntary prayers is sufficient, and al-Fatihah is the pillar. If one adds to it from the Qur'an, that is a recommended practice. If she memorizes more than al-Fatihah, she should not restrict herself to al-Fatihah, because her reward would be diminished. However, if she does not know how to recite anything other than al-Fatihah, she should restrict herself to it. Allah the Exalted said:[At-Taghabun 64:16] .
A274: Reciting al-Fatihah in voluntary prayers is sufficient, and al-Fatihah is the pillar. If one adds to it from the Qur'an, that is a recommended practice. If she memorizes more than al-Fatihah, she should not restrict herself to al-Fatihah, because her reward would be diminished. However, if she does not know how to recite anything other than al-Fatihah, she should restrict herself to it. Allah the Exalted said:
So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allah]; it is better
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَاسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا وَأَنْفِقُوا خَيْرًا
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.