Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Except Fajr prayer, all other prayers have two tashahuds. In the first tashahud, should we read the Durood Shareef, or end with "Ashhadu An Lailaha Illallah Wa Ashahaduanna Muhammadan Rasoolullah" and then stand up for the 3rd rakah? Also in our Shafie Madhab, during Fajr, Maghrib and Esha, after the Imam recites Fathihah, we say `Ameen` aloud and recite Fathihah individually whereas the Hanafis do not so. Are we right or wrong? Is it the same in Jum`a prayers?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What to recite is small tashahud

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: In the first tashahud, should we read the Durood Shareef, or end with "Ashhadu An Lailaha Illallah Wa Ashahaduanna Muhammadan Rasoolullah" and then stand up for the 3rd rakah?

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.158

It is preferred to make the first ‘tashahud’ quickly

Reported Ibn Mas'ud, "When the Prophet sat after the first two rak'ah, it seemed as if he (saws) was (sitting) on hot stones."

Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

Says Ibn al-Qayyim, "It is not reported from the Prophet that he would say prayers upon himself or his family during the first ‘tashahud’, nor would he seek refuge from the torment of the grave or the Hell-fire, or from the test of life, death, or of the false Messiah….the correct position for such supplications is in the last ‘tashahud’.

The absolute majority of the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that there is absolutely no evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that he (saws) would recite the ‘durood’ or make any other supplications in the first or small ‘tashahud’.

In the small or first ‘tashahud’ one should stand up for their third rakah immediately after one has declared the ‘tahiyaah’ and the ‘shahaadah’ without reciting the ‘durood’ or making any other supplications. It is in the final sitting of the last ‘tashahud’ where one should recite the ‘durood’ and make supplications.

Your Question: Also in our Shafie Madhab, during Fajr, Maghrib and Esha, after the Imam recites Fathihah, we say `Ameen` aloud and recite Fathihah individually whereas the Hanafis do not so. Are we right or wrong? Is it the same in Jum`a prayers?

Ref: Declaring ‘Ameen’ aloud

Although it is not considered obligatory, there is compelling evidence and a preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to say ‘ameen’ aloud with the imam at the end of the recitation of Surah al-Fateha when the imam is praying aloud, and silently when the imam is praying silently.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.136

Sunnah acts of prayer, Saying 'Ameen

It is Sunnah for everyone to say 'ameen’ after reciting al-Fatihah. The word ‘ameen’ is not part of Surah al-Fatihah, but rather a supplication meaning, "O Allah, respond (to, or answer what we have said). It should be said aloud in the prayers where the recital is aloud, and quietly in the prayers where the recital is silent.

Said Na'eem al-Mujamir, "I prayed behind Abu Hurairah and he said, 'In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful,' then recited Surah al-Fatihah, and closed it with 'ameen’. The people also said 'ameen’. After the prayer, Abu Hurairah said, 'By the One in whose Hand is my soul, I have followed the prayer of the Prophet (saws)."

Related by Al-Bukhari, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn Hibban and Ibn as-Siraj.

Ibn Shihab (az-Zuhri) said, "The Messenger of Allah (saws)would say 'ameen’ (after recitation of Surah al-Fateha in prayers)."

Related by Bukhari.

Abu Hurairah said, "When the Messenger of Allah (saws) would recite, '...Not with those with whom You are displeased, and not of those who have gone astray (end of Surah al-Fateha),' he (saws) would say 'ameen’, such that those close to him could hear him." (Related by Abu Dawud.) Ibn Majah's version is, "Until the people in the first row would hear him, and the mosque would ring with the sound." Al-Hakim also relates this hadith.

Wa'il ibn Jubair says, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) recite, '...and not of those who have gone astray (end of Surah al-Fateha),' and then say 'ameen’, and make it long with his voice." (Related by Ahmad.)

Reported 'Ata, "I have found two hundred companions of the Prophet (saws) in this mosque and when the imam recited,'...and not of those who have gone astray (end of Surah al-Fateha),' I heard them say 'ameen.’

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saws) said, When the imam recites, '... not of those with whom You are angered nor of those who have gone astray (end of Surah al-Fateha),' you should say 'ameen’. If this corresponds to when the Angels say it, he will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (Related by al-Bukhari.)

Ref: Reciting Surah Al-Fatihah in prayer

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraf verse 204:

When the Quran is recited to you, listen to it with attention and keep silent. It may be that you also are blessed with mercy.

Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 1.723 Narrated by Ubada bin As Samit

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid."

The best opinion of the scholars regarding the recitation of the Quran while praying in congregation is that when the Imam is praying and recites the Surah Al-Fatihah and the Quran aloud (Fajr, and the first two rakahs of Magrib and Isha), the people should listen to the ‘Imams’ recitation and keep absolutely silent; and in the rakahs when the Imam recites the Surah Al-Fatihah and/or the Quran silently (Dhuhr, Asr, the last rakah of Magrib, and the last two rakahs of Isha), the believers should recite the Surah Al-Fatihah and/or the Quran themselves.

This way both the commands and guidance, to remain quiet when the Quran is being recited, and the recitation of Surah Fatihah in every rakah will be honored.

For one to recite the Surah Al-Fatihah themselves when the Imam is reciting the Verses of the Glorious Quran aloud in the prayers would be against the Command and Guidance of the Lord: ‘When the Quran is recited to you, listen to it with attention and keep silent.’

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan