Should I read Surah al-Faatihah when I’m praying in congregation behind the Imaam?

by Asma bint Shameem

🌿 ANSWER🌿 Reading al-Faatihah is a MUST in every salah. There’s no prayer that’s valid without it. 🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said: “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book [i.e., al-Faatihah].” (al-Bukhaari) However to read al-Faatihah behind the Imaam or not, that’s the issue. There’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about this. But there’s a very clear hadeeth of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam regarding this matter: 🍃 Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit radhi Allaahu anhu said: “We were behind the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam in Fajr prayer. The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam recited, and he found it difficult to recite (due to interference). When he finished praying he said: “Perhaps you were reciting behind your Imaam?” We said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allaah.” He said: “Do not do that, apart from the Opening of the Book (al-Faatihah), because there is no prayer for the one who does not recite it.” (al-Bayhaqi, al-Tirmidhi - Hasan) This clearly shows that if you’re praying behind an Imaam, YOU should ALSO recite al-Faatihah along with him moving your lips and tongue, but QUIETLY so that no one else can hear you and get disturbed. 🔺 Someone asked Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen about this issue. He said: “...He should recite al-Faatihah when the Imaam is still reciting, because the Sahaabah used to recite al-Faatihah with the Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and he said: “Do not do that except with the Essence of the Book (al-Faatihah), because there is no prayer for the one who does not recite it.” (Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam, p. 322) 🔺 What about the Aayah in the Qur’aan where Allaah tells us to keep quiet whenever the Qur’aan is being recited❓ Yes there’s an Aayah where Allaah says: “So, when the Qur’aan is recited, listen to it, and BE SILENT that you may receive mercy” (Surah al-A‘raaf :204) However, the ulama explain that Aayah is GENERAL in meaning, and that this applies at all times when praying behind the Imaam, and we should be quiet and LISTEN to the Qur’aan EXCEPT when reading al-Faatihah in prayer. That’s because the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam VERY SPECIFICALLY told the Sahaabah: “Do not do that, apart from the Opening of the Book (al-Faatihah), because there is no prayer for the one who does not recite it.” 🔺What about the following hadeeth❓ “The recitation of the Imaam is the recitation of the one who is praying behind him” This is a WEAK hadeeth. And we don’t take rulings from weak ahaadeeth because when a hadeeth is ‘weak’, it means that it’s highly DOUBTFUL that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam ever said that or did that or approved of that. So read al-Faatihah behind the Imaam but keep quiet and listen to the REST of his recitation in the ‘loud’ prayers. As for the ‘quiet’ prayers, you should read al-Faatihah as well as your own Surah and the rest of the prayer by yourself. 🍃 The Standing Committee said: “The correct scholarly opinion is that it is OBLIGATORY to recite al-Faatihah when praying alone and it is obligatory upon the Imaam AND those whom he is leading both in prayers where Qur’aan is to be recited out loud and when it is to be recited silently, because of the soundness and specific nature of the texts which indicate that.” And Allaah knows best