The obligation of reciting Surah Fatiha behind the Imām

Question:

Albāni and Fawzān gave legal rulings on the lack of reciting the Fātiha during audible prayers, and some say that their fatwa is stronger (in position)?

Answer:

Anyone can have their statement accepted or rejected except the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and his ﷺ Hadīths point to that the Fātiha is a pillar for every Raka’ah (unit of prayer), whether it be for the audible prayers or the inaudible.

From them is the Hadīth:

(لعلكم تقرءون خلف الإمام والإمام يقرأ؟ قالوا نعم. قال فلا تفعلوا إلا أن يقرأ أحدكم بفاتحة الكتاب)
“Perhaps you also recite behind the Imām whilst the Imām is reciting? They said yes, he said: “Don’t do that except that if you are reciting the Fātiha of the Book”

And this has been reported in the Sahīhl Musnad of our Shaykh Muqbil, may Allah have mercy upon him.

Likewise the Hadīth:

(تقرءون القرآن إذا كنتم معي في الصلاة؟ قالوا نعم يارسول الله نهذُّ هذاً. قال: فلا تفعلوا إلا بأم القرآن)
“Do you recite the Qur’an when you praying behind me in prayer? They said yes O Messenger of Allah we do this, he said: “Don’t do that except the Umm-ul-Qur’an (i.e the Fātiha)”.

It’s a Hadīth that’s Hasan (Fairly authentic) reported by Bukhari under the section of ‘reciting behind the Imām’.

Similarly the Hadīth:

(من صلى صلاة لم يقرأ فيها بأم القرآن فهي خداج غير تمام. فقيل لأبي هريرة إنا نكون وراء الإمام؟ فقال إقرأ بها في نفسك)
Whoever performs a prayer in which he does not recite Umm-ul-Qur’an (the Mother of the Qur’an, i.e., the Fātiha), it is deficient; not complete. Then it was said to Abu Hurairah, if I’m behind the Imam? He said: recite it to yourself.

This is in Sahīh Muslim.

Imām Ash-Shawkāni said at the statement:

(لا تفعلوا إلا بفاتحة الكتاب)
“Don’t do so except the Fātiha of the Book”

“This Hadīth brings two benefits:

The first:
Is the prohibition of reciting behind the Imām.

The second:
Is the obligation of reciting the Fātiha behind him, and this is apparent and clear and it’s not appropriate to act hesitantly regarding it due to its authenticity and apparancy in pointing to this.”

End of speech.

Answered by:
Shaykh Abu Hamza Hassan bin Muhammed Ba Shu’ayb – may Allah preserve him –

Source:
https://t.me/Bashuaib/5044

Translated by:
Abu Ibrāhim Nāsir bin Rāshid Al-mamry