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:

As salamalaykum w.r.b

Brother BURHAN,

since last so many day i am confused that in our fard namaz we have to read surah fatah behind imam. is it compulsary or not i want u to explain me with the sahih hadeeth. some says we have to listen when quran is reading some says without surah fatah your salah is void.

awaiting for your reply

thanking you

yours truly

(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:

Surah fatihah 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.

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 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.

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