Reciting Surat Al-Fatihah in Prayer

Question:

If I am a muqtadi (person following the imam in prayer) behind an imam in the silent prayers (Zhuhr and `Asr) and I forget to recite Surat Al-Fatihah (the Opening Surah), what is the ruling of such prayer?

Answer:

`Ubadah ibn As-Samit narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever does not recite Al-Fatihah in his prayer, his prayer is invalid.” (Al-Bukhari)

Based on this hadith, it is clear that reciting Al-Fatihah is one of the essential parts of the prayer, and is to be recited in each rak`ah both by the imam and the followers.

The scholars have two opinions regarding such ruling:

1- Most scholars are of the view that the imam or the followers must recite Surat Al-Fatihah on their own particularly during the rak`ahs in which the imam recites silently or during the whole silent prayers such as Zhuhr (Noon Prayer) and `Asr (Afternoon Prayer).

2- Imam Abu Hanifah sees that the follower does not have to recite Surat Al-Fatihah during the congregational prayers because the imam recites on his behalf.

To get more information about the rulings of reciting Surat Al-Fatihah in prayer, you can watch this short video with Dr. Muhammad Salah.

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Source: Huda Youtube Channel.