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:

Dear Burhan BHAI. I heard that you have to say Alhamdu lillla..... at every rakat inspite of being in jamat I thought that when you are behind Imam, you just follow his gestures.Please advise

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Answer:

Surah fateha in prayer

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: I heard that you have to say Alhamdu lillla..... at every rakat inspite of being in jamat
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 Surah 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 Imam’s recitation; 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.

Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "If you come to the salah and we are in the state of ‘sajdah’, then make sajdah with us but do not count it [as a rak'ah]. And whoever 'catches' the ruku', he catches the ‘rakah’."

Related by Abu Dawud, Ibn Khuzaimah, and al-Hakim.

If for some reason one has reached the congregation late when the ‘imam’ has already finished the recitation of Surah al-Fatihah and started the recitation of another Surah in the rakah, one should listen to the recitation of the ‘imam’ with absolute attention and silence, and abstain from reciting anything; for the believers are commanded by their Lord to listen to the Quran with attention when it is being recited aloud in their presence.

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.

But in the ‘rakahs’ where the prayers are offered in silence by the ‘imam’ ((Dhuhr, Asr, the last rakah of Magrib, and the last two rakahs of Isha), it is highly recommended that one recite the Surah Al-Fatihah silently in those rakahs.

Your Question: I thought that when you are behind Imam, you just follow his gestures.

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "The ‘imam’ is selected to be followed; therefore, do not differ with him. When he makes the ‘takbir’, make the takbir; when he goes into ‘ruku', make ruku'; when he says 'Allah hears him who praises Him,' say 'O Allah, our Lord, to You belongs all Praise'; when he goes into ‘sajdah’, make sajdah; if he prays sitting, then all should be sitting."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) also reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said:"The ‘imam’ (in prayer) is to be followed. If he makes the ‘takbir’, make the ‘takbir’, and do not make the takbir until he does so; when he goes into ‘ruku', make ‘ruku', and do not perform ruku' until he does so; when he goes into ‘sajdah’, make ‘sajdah’, and do not make sajdah until he does so."

Related by Abu Dawood and Ahmad.

Anas ibn Malik (r.a.) reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "O people, I am your ‘imam’, so do not precede me in ‘ruku' or in ‘sujood’ or in ‘qiyam’ or in sitting or in finishing (prayer)."

Related by Ahmad and Muslim .

It is indeed obligatory for every believer who offers their prayer in congregation to follow the gestures of the ‘imam’ leading the prayer, and never to precede the ‘imam’ in any of his gestures in prayer.

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