Reciting Fatiha behind Imam Written by Administrator Saturday, 30 January 2010 15:25 - Last Updated Sunday, 12 May 2019 16:31 Reciting Surah al-Fatiha behind the Imam? Recently it has been experienced that some people stubbornly claim that whosoever does not recite Surah al-Fatiha behind the Imam then his prayer is not acceptable (i.e. It is null and void). Whether it is necessary to recite behind the Imam or not is a minor issue, but when arrogant people make rigid statements like: Prayer of people who do not recite is “NULL AND VOID” then it becomes necessary to write a detailed refutation of such extremists. With the Grace of Allah “NOT” reciting behind Imam is something which is proven directly from Qur'an itself In Light of Qur'an 1 / 15 Reciting Fatiha behind Imam Written by Administrator Saturday, 30 January 2010 15:25 - Last Updated Sunday, 12 May 2019 16:31 Qur'an states: When the Qur’an is being recited then “LISTEN ATTENTIVELY AND REMAIN SILENT” so that mercy will be showered upon you".(7:204) Tafsir Ibn Kathir R.A: Imam Ibn Kathir (rah) narrates from Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (ra), Abu Huraira (ra) and Ibn Masud (ra) that this ayah was revealed regarding “REMAINING SILENT WHEN IMAM RECITES”… Then Imam Ibn Kathir says: وﻘاﻞ أﺒﻮ ﺣﻨﻴﻔﺔ وأﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺣﻨﺒﻞ: ﻟﺎ ﻳﺠﺐ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻠﻤأﻤوﻢ ﻗراءﺔ أﺼﻠﺎً ﻓﻲ اﻠﺴرﻴﺔ وﻠﺎ اﻠﺠﻬرﻴﺔ ﺑﻤﺎ ورﺪ ﻓﻲ اﻠﺤدﻴﺚ «ﻣﻦ ﻛاﻦ ﻟﻪ إﻤاﻢ ﻓﻘراءﺘﻪ ﻗراءﺔ ﻟﻪ» وﻬذﺎ اﻠﺤدﻴﺚ رواﻪ اﻠإﻤاﻢ أﺤﻤﺪ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺴﻨدﻪ ﻋﻦ ﺟاﺒﺮ ﻣرﻔوﻌﺎً، وﻬﻮ ﻓﻲ ﻣوﻄﺄ ﻣاﻠﻚ ﻋﻦ وﻬﺐ ﺑﻦ ﻛﻴﺴاﻦ ﻋﻦ ﺟاﺒﺮ ﻣوﻘوﻔﺎً، وﻬذﺎ أﺼﺢ Translation: Imam Abu Hanifa (rah) and Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal (rah) say that Qirat is not binding upon Muqtadi “WHETHER IN SILENT OR LOUD PRAYER” because it has come in hadith that whosoever has an Imam then his recitation is your recitation, this hadith is narrated by Imam Ahmed in his Musnad from Jabir (ra) in the “MARFU FORM” and in Muwatta Imam Malik via the route of Wahb bin Kaysan who nattated from Jabir (ra) in Mawquf form. (Ibn Kathir said) This is more correct [Tafsir Ibn Kathir, (1/281) under 7:204] May Allah immensely bless Imam Ibn Kathir (rah) who in-spite of being a Shafi'i proved the stance of Imam Abu Hanifa and Ahnaaf as closer to Qur'an 2 / 15 Reciting Fatiha behind Imam Written by Administrator Saturday, 30 January 2010 15:25 - Last Updated Sunday, 12 May 2019 16:31 Imam Nasai'i (rah) made a whole chapter as: ﺑاﺐ ﺗأوﻴﻞ ﻗوﻠﻪ ﻋﺰ وﺠﻞ: {وإذﺎ ﻗرﯩء اﻠﻘرآﻦ ﻓاﺴﺘﻤﻌوﺎ ﻟﻪ وأﻨﺼﺘوﺎ ﻟﻌﻠﻜﻢ ﺗرﺤﻤوﻦ} Translation: Interpretation of Allah’s saying: {When the Qur’an is being recited then listen attentively and remain silent so that mercy will be showered upon you} Under this chapter he brought the following hadith 1. ﺃَﺥْﺏَﺭَﻧﻲ اﻞْﺝَاﺮُوﺪُ ﺏْﻥُ ﻡُﻉَاﺬٍ اﻠﺖِّﺭْﻡِﺫِﻱُّ ﺡَﺩَّﺙَﻥَﺍ ﺃَﺏُﻭ ﺥَاﻞِﺩٍ اﻠﺄَﺡْﻡَﺭُ ﻉَﻥْ ﻡُﺡَﻡَّﺩِ ﺏْﻥِ ﻉَﺝْﻟﺎَﻥَ ﻉَﻥْ ﺯَﻱْﺩِ ﺏْﻥِ ﺃَﺱْﻝَﻡَ ﻉَﻥْ ﺃَﺏِـﻲ ﺹَاﻞِﺡٍ ﻉَﻥْ ﺃَﺏِـﻲ ﻩُﺭَﻱْﺭَﺓَ ، ﻕَاﻞَ: ﻕَاﻞَ ﺭَﺱُوﻞُ اﻠﻞَّﻩِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﻠﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ وﺴﻞّﻡ: «إﻦَّﻡَﺍ ﺝُﻉِﻝَ اﻠﺈِﻡَاﻢُ ﻝِﻱُﺅْﺕَﻡَّ ﺏِﻩِ ﻑَإﺬَﺍ ﻙَﺏَّﺭَ ﻑَﻙَﺏِّﺭُوﺎ ﻭَإﺬَﺍ ﻕَﺭَﺃَ ﻑَﺃَﻥْﺹِﺕُوﺎ ﻭَإﺬَﺍ ﻕَاﻞَ ﺱَﻡِﻉَ اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﻝِﻡَﻥْ ﺡَﻡِﺩَﻩُ ﻑَﻕُوﻞُوﺎ اﻠﻞَّﻩُﻡَّ ﺭَﺏَّﻥَﺍ ﻝَﻙَ اﻞْﺡَﻡْﺩُ». Translation: Hadrat Abu Hurraira (ra) narrates that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Imam has been appointed upon you so that you follow him, when he says takbir then you should also say takbir, “BUT WHEN HE RECITES QUR'AN THEN YOU SHOULD REMAIN SILENT” , when he goes for Ruku and says Sami Allah huliman Hamida then you should say Allahuma Rabbana Lakal Hamd [Sunnan Nasai’I (2/479, Hadith # 919)] 3 / 15 Reciting Fatiha behind Imam Written by Administrator Saturday, 30 January 2010 15:25 - Last Updated Sunday, 12 May 2019 16:31 2. ﺣدﺜﻨـﻲ أﺒﻮ اﻠﺴاﺌﺐ، ﻗاﻞ: ﺛﻨﺎ ﺣﻔﺺ، ﻋﻦ أﺸﻌﺚ، ﻋﻦ اﻠزﻬرﻲ، ﻗاﻞ: ﻧزﻠﺖ ﻫذﻪ اﻠآﻴﺔ ﻓـﻲ ﻓﺘـﻰ ﻣﻦ اﻠأﻨﺼاﺮ ﻛاﻦ رﺴوﻞ اﻠﻠﻪ ﺻﻠﻰ اﻠﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ وﺴﻞّﻡ ﻛﻠـﻤﺎ ﻗرﺄ ﺷﻴﺌﺎ ﻗرأﻪ، ﻓﻨزﻠﺖ: ﻭَإﺬَﺍ ﻕُﺭِﯨءَ اﻠﻖُرآﻦُ ﻓـاﺲْﺕَـﻢِﻉُوﺎ ﻝَﻩُ وأﻦْﺹِﺕُوﺎ Translation: Imam al-Zuhri (rah) narrates that this ayah was revealed regarding a young person from Ansaar. When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) recited any ayah in prayer, then he used to recite behind him, “THEREFORE THIS AYAH WAS REVEALED” [Tafsir Ibn Jarir (9/110) under 7:204] Leading Sahaba and Tabiyeen on 7:204 1. ﻋﻦ ﺑﺸﻴﺮ ﺑﻦ ﺟاﺒﺮ، ﻗاﻞ: ﺻﻠﻰ اﺒﻦ ﻣﺴﻌوﺪ، ﻓﺴﻤﻊ ﻧاﺴﺎ ﻳﻘرءوﻦ ﻣﻊ اﻠإﻤاﻢ، ﻓﻠـﻤﺎ اﻨﺼرﻒ، ﻗاﻞ: أﻤﺎ آﻦ ﻟﻜﻢ أﻦ ﺗﻔﻘﻬوا؟ أﻤﺎ آﻦ ﻟﻜﻢ أﻦ ﺗﻌﻘﻠوا؟ ﻭَإﺬَﺍ ﻕُﺭِﯨءَ اﻠﻖُرآﻦُ ﻓـاﺲْﺕَـﻢِﻉُوﺎ ﻝَﻩُ وأﻦْﺹِﺕُوﺎ ﻛﻤﺎ أﻤرﻜﻢ اﻠﻠﻪ. Translation: Hadrat Bashir bin Jabir (ra) narrates that Ibn Masud (ra) lead people in prayer and he heard some people reciting along with Imam, when he offered salutations he said: “HASN’T TIME COME YET THAT YOU UNDERSTAND” hasn’t time come yet that you use your senses? Remember when Quran is recited then you should listen to it attentively and “REM AIN SILENT, BECAUSE ALLAH HAS ORDERED IT (IN 7:204)” [Tafsir at-Tabri, (9/110) under 7:204] 4 / 15 Reciting Fatiha behind Imam Written by Administrator Saturday, 30 January 2010 15:25 - Last Updated Sunday, 12 May 2019 16:31 2. ﻋﻦ ﺳﻌﻴﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺟﺒـﻴﺮ: ﻭَإﺬَﺍ ﻕُﺭِﯨءَ اﻠﻖُرآﻦُ ﻓـاﺲْﺕَـﻢِﻉُوﺎ ﻝَﻩُ وأﻦْﺹِﺕُوﺎ ﻗاﻞ: ﻓـﻲ اﻠﺼﻠاﺔ اﻠـﻤﻜﺘوﺒﺔ. Translation: Hadrat Sa’eed bin Jubair (ra) narrates that {When the Qur’an is being recited then listen attentively and remain silent} is revealed about “OBLIGATORY PRAYERS” [Tafsir Ibn Jarir (9/110) under 7:204] 3. وﻘاﻞ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ أﺒﻲ ﻃﻠﺤﺔ ﻋﻦ اﺒﻦ ﻋﺒاﺲ ﻓﻲ اﻠآﻴﺔ ﻗوﻠﻪ {ﻭَﺇِﺫَﺍ ﻕُﺭِﯨءَ ٱﻞْﻕُﺭْﺀَاﻦُ ﻑَٱﺲْﺕَﻡِﻉُوﺎ۴} ﻳﻌﻨﻲ ﻓﻲ اﻠﺼﻠاﺔ اﻠﻤﻔروﻀﺔ، Translation: Ibn Abbas (ra) said that {When the Qur’an is being recited then listen attentively and remain silent} refers to ruling regarding “OBLIGATORY PRAYERS” [Tafsir Ibn Kathir under 7:204] Now here is proof from leading Tabiyeen: 5 / 15 Reciting Fatiha behind Imam Written by Administrator Saturday, 30 January 2010 15:25 - Last Updated Sunday, 12 May 2019 16:31 1. ﻗاﻞ: ﺛﻨﺎ أﺒـﻲ، ﻋﻦ ﺳﻔـﻴاﻦ، ﻋﻦ أﺒـﻲ ﻫاﺸﻢ، ﻋﻦ ﻣـﺠاﻬﺪ: ﻓـﻲ اﻠﺼﻠاﺔ اﻠـﻤﻜﺘوﺒﺔ Imam Mujahid (rah) said: (This ayah is revealed) about “Obligatory prayers” [ibid] 2. ﻗاﻞ: ﺛﻨﺎ اﻠـﻤـﺤارﺒـﻲ وأﺒﻮ ﺧاﻠﺪ، ﻋﻦ ﺟوﻴﺒﺮ، ﻋﻦ اﻠﻀﺤاﻚ ﻗاﻞ: ﻓـﻲ اﻠﺼﻠاﺔ اﻠـﻤﻜﺘوﺒﺔ Imam adh-Dhahak (rah) said: (This ayah is revealed) about “Obligatory prayers” [ibid] 3. ﻗاﻞ: ﺛﻨﺎ ﺟرﻴﺮ واﺒﻦ ﻓﻀﻴـﻞ، ﻋﻦ ﻣﻐﻴرﺔ، ﻋﻦ إﺒراﻬﻴـﻢ، ﻗاﻞ: ﻓـﻲ اﻠﺼﻠاﺔ اﻠـﻤﻜﺘوﺒﺔ. Ibrahim al Nakh’ai (rah) said: (This ayah is revealed) about “Obligatory prayers” [ibid] Hence those people who believe that recitation of Imam is enough for Muqtadi (follower) then they have Quran in their favour whereas people who proclaim that recitation is necessary for Muqtadi have no proof from Quran whatsoever. But to their surprise even overwhelming ahadith refute the claim that recitation on Muqtadi is binding, some have been shown above but let us see some more. 6 / 15 Reciting Fatiha behind Imam Written by Administrator Saturday, 30 January 2010 15:25 - Last Updated Sunday, 12 May 2019 16:31 In Light of Hadith Hadith #1 Ata' b. Yasar reported that he had asked Zaid b. Thabit about recital along with the Imam, to which he said: ”THERE SHOULD BE NO RECITAL ALONG WITH THE IMAM IN ANYTHING” and alleged that he recited:" By the star when it sets" (Surah Najm) before the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he did not prostrate himself. [Book 004, Number 1192: (Sahih Muslim) ] References: 1. Sahi Muslim, Kitab As Salah, Chapter: Sajood At Tilawah, Volume 1, Page: 406, Hadith No #577 2. Sunan Nasai Al Kubra, Kitab Al Masajid, Volume 2, Page: 6, Hadith No #1034 3. Sunan Nasai, Kitab Al iftitah, Volume 2, Page: 160, Hadith No #960 7 / 15 Reciting Fatiha behind Imam Written by Administrator Saturday, 30 January 2010 15:25 - Last Updated Sunday, 12 May 2019 16:31 4. Mustakhraj Abu 'Awanah, Volume 1, Page: 522, Hadith No #1951 Hadith #2 ﺣدﺜﻨﻲ ﻋﻦ ﻣاﻠﻚ ﻋﻦ أﺒﻲ ﻧﻌﻴﻢ وﻬﺐ ﺑﻦ ﻛﻴﺴاﻦ أﻨﻪ ﺳﻤﻊ ﺟاﺒﺮ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻠﻠﻪ Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu Nuaym Wahb ibn Kaysan that he heard Jabir ibn Abdullah say, "Someone who prays a raka without reciting the umm al-Qur'an in it has not done the prayer except behind an imam." [Book 3, Number 3.9.40: (Muwatta Imam Malik)] 1. Jami' Tirmidhi, Kitab As Salah, Volume 1, Page: 43, Hadith No #313 2. Sharah Ma'ani al Athaar, Volume 1, Page: 218, Hadith No #1300 Note: It has been noted that some people use the above hadith and they hide the last part of it, without the last part of above hadith which states: "EXCEPT BEHIND AN IMAM" the hadith is incomplete. 8 / 15 Reciting Fatiha behind Imam Written by Administrator Saturday, 30 January 2010 15:25 - Last Updated Sunday, 12 May 2019 16:31 Hadith #3 ﺣدﺜﻨﻲ ﻳﺤﻴﻰ ﻋﻦ ﻣاﻠﻚ ﻋﻦ اﺒﻦ ﺷﻬاﺐ ﻋﻦ اﺒﻦ أﻜﻴﻤﺔ اﻠﻠﻴﺜﻲ ﻋﻦ أﺒﻲ ﻫرﻴرﺔ Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Ibn Ukayma al-Laythi from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, finished a prayer in which he had recited aloud and asked, "Did any of you recite with me just now?" One man said, "Yes, I did, Messenger of Allah." The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "I was saying to myself, 'Why am I distracted from the Qur'an?' " When the people heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say that, they refrained from reciting with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he recited aloud.