Traces of the Noble Companions, May Allah Be Pleased With Them
Hadith Number 13 mentions regarding the common Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, that when they prayed behind the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, they recited Surah Al-Fatiha. After this, the traces of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are mentioned by name.
Trace Number 1
From Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him
«عن يزيد بن شريك انه سئل عمر عن القراءة خلف الامام فقال اقرأ بفاتحة الكتاب قلت ان كنت انت قال و ان كنت انا قلت و ان جهرت قال و ان جهرت رواته كلهم ثقات»
Yazid ibn Shurayk narrates that he asked Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, about reciting behind the Imam. He said: Recite Surah Al-Fatiha. I asked: What if you are leading the prayer? He replied: Even if I am leading the prayer. I asked: What if you are reciting aloud? He replied: Even if I am reciting aloud. Imam Al-Daraqutni says that all narrators of this trace are trustworthy.
Trace Number 2
From Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him
«عن على بن ابي طالب رضى الله عنه انه كان يأمر و يحب ان يقرأ خلف الامام فى الظهر والعصر بفاتحة الكتاب وسورة و فى الاخريين بفاتحة الكتاب»
It is narrated from Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) that he used to command and prefer that in the first two rak’ahs of Dhuhr and Asr behind the Imam, Surah Al-Fatiha and another Surah be recited, while in the last two rak’ahs only Surah Al-Fatiha be recited.
And in
it is mentioned:
«ان عليا رضى الله عنه كان يأمر بالقراءة خلف الامام»
Meaning Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to command reciting behind the Imam.
Evidence No. 3
From Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him)
«عن ابي مريم سمعت ابن مسعود رضى الله عنه يقرأ خلف الامام»
It is narrated from Abu Maryam that I heard Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reciting behind the Imam.
Evidence No. 4
From Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him)
«عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال اقرأ خلف الامام جهر او لم يجهر»
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that one should recite behind the Imam whether the Imam is reciting aloud or silently.
In another narration it is mentioned:
«عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال لا تدع فاتحة الكتاب جهر الامام او لم يجهر»
Meaning Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that in every case Surah Al-Fatiha should be recited whether the Imam is reciting aloud or silently.
Evidence No. 5
From Abi bin Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him)
«عن عبدالله بن ابي الهذيل قال سألت ابي بن كعب رضى الله عنه اقرأ خلف الامام قال نعم و عن ابي المغيرة عن ابي بن كعب رضى الله عنه انه كان يقرأ خلف الامام»
It is narrated from Abdullah bin Abi Hudhail that I asked Ubayy bin Ka’b, may Allah be pleased with him, “Can I recite behind the Imam?” He said, “Yes.” It is narrated from Abu Mughirah that Ubayy bin Ka’b, may Allah be pleased with him, used to recite behind the Imam.
Narration Number 6
From Abu Sa’id Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him
«عن ابي نضرة قال سألت ابا سعيد عن القراءة خلف الامام فقال فاتحة الكتاب»
It is narrated from Abu Nadhrah that I asked Abu Sa’id Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, about reciting behind the Imam, and he said that Surah Al-Fatiha should be recited.
Narration Number 7
From Imran bin Husain, may Allah be pleased with him
«عن الحسن حدثني عمران بن حصين قال لا تزكوا صلاة مسلم الا بطهور و ركوع و سجود و فاتحة الكتاب وراء الامام وغير الامام»
It is narrated from Hasan that Imran bin Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, told me that a Muslim’s prayer cannot be pure until it includes purification, bowing, prostration, and Surah Al-Fatiha, whether behind the Imam or without the Imam.
Narration Number 8
From Ubada bin As-Samit, may Allah be pleased with him
«عن محمود بن الربيع قال صلينا صلاة و الي جنبي عبادة بن الصامت فسمعه يقرأ بفاتحة الكتاب فلما فرغنا قلت يا ابا الوليد الم اسمعك قرأت فاتحة القرآن قال اجل انه لا صلاة الا بها»
Mahmood bin Rabee says that we were praying. Ibadah bin Al-Samit رضي الله عنه was standing with me. I heard him reciting Surah Al-Fatiha. When we finished the prayer, I said: O Abu Al-Waleed! Did I not hear you reciting Surah Al-Fatiha? He said: Yes, because without it the prayer is not valid.
Effect Number 9
From Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما
«عن يحيي ابن البكاء سئل ابن عمر رضى الله عنه عن القراءة خلف الامام فقال ما كانوا يرون بأسا ان يقرأ بفاتحة الكتاب فى نفسه»
Yahya bin Bukaa says that Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما was asked about reciting Surah Al-Fatiha behind the Imam. He said: The noble companions رضي الله عنهم did not consider it objectionable for the follower to recite Surah Al-Fatiha quietly in his heart.
And another narration is that:
«عن ابي العاليه البراء ان عبدالله بن صفوان قال لابن عمر يا ابا عبدالرحمن افي كل صلاة تقرأ قال اني لأستحي من رب هذا البيت ان اركع ركعتين لا اقرأ فيهما بأم الكتاب فزائدا او قال فصاعدا»
That is, it is narrated from Abu Al-Aliyah Al-Bara that Abdullah bin Safwan asked Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both: Do you recite in every prayer? He replied: I feel ashamed before the Lord of this House (Kaaba) that I should pray two rak’ahs and not recite Surah Al-Fatiha in them or not recite any other Surah from the Quran after it.
Effect Number 10
From Abu Hurairah and Aisha, may Allah be pleased with them both
«عن ابي هريره و عائشه رضي الله عنهما كانا يأمران بالقراءة خلف الامام فى الظهر والعصر فى الركعتين الأوليين بفاتحة الكتاب و شيء من القرآن و كانت عائشه رضي الله عنها تقول يقرأ فى الاخريين بفاتحة الكتاب»
Both Abu Hurairah and Aisha, may Allah be pleased with them, used to command reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and some other Quranic verses behind the Imam in the first two rak’ahs of Zuhr and Asr prayers. And Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said that in the last two rak’ahs only Surah Al-Fatiha should be recited.
Also, in Hadith number 2, the statement of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, was mentioned that he ordered to recite Surah Al-Fatiha quietly behind the Imam.
Effect Number 11
From Abu Darda, may Allah be pleased with him
«عن حسان بن عطيه ان ابا الدرداء رضى الله عنه قال لا تترك قراءة فاتحة الكتاب خلف الامام جهر او لم يجهر»
It is narrated from Hassan bin Atiyyah that Abu Darda رضي الله عنه said: Whether the Imam is reciting aloud or silently, do not stop reciting Surah Al-Fatiha behind him.
Narration Number 12
From Anas رضي الله عنه
«عن ثابت عن انس قال كان يأمرنا بالقراءة خلف الامام قال و كنت اقوم الي جنب انس فيقرأ بفاتحة الكتاب و سورة من المفصل و يسمعنا قراءته لنأخذ عنه»
Thabit Al-Tabi’i says that Anas رضي الله عنه ordered to recite behind the Imam. And I used to stand with them in congregation. He would recite Surah Al-Fatiha and another Surah behind the Imam and recite it to us so that we could also learn.
Narration Number 13
From Mu’adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه
«عن ابي شيبه المهري يقول سأل رجل معاذ بن جبل رضى الله عنه عن القراءة خلف الامام قال اذا قرأ فاقرأ بفاتحة الكتاب و قل هو الله احد و اذا لم تسمع فاقرأ فى نفسك و لا تؤذ من عن يمينك و لا من عن شمالك»
Abu Shaybah Mahri says that a person asked Mu’adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه about reciting behind the Imam. He said: When the Imam is reciting, then recite Surah Al-Fatiha and قل هو الله احد. And when you are not listening to the Imam’s recitation, then recite quietly in your heart and do not disturb the one on your right or left (i.e., do not recite aloud so that they get disturbed).“
Narration Number 14
From Abdullah bin Umar and bin Al-As, may Allah be pleased with them
«عن حصين قال صليت الي جنب عبيد الله بن عبدالله بن عتبه فسمعه يقرأ خلف الامام فلقيت مجاهدا فذكرت له ذلك فقال مجاهد سمعت عبدالله بن عمرو بن العاص يقرأ خلف الامام»
Hussain says that I prayed with Ubaidullah bin Abdullah bin Utbah. I heard that he was reciting behind the Imam. Then I met Mujahid Tabi’i and told him about this. He said that he heard Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As, may Allah be pleased with both of them, who was also reciting behind the Imam.
Narration Number 15
From Hisham bin Amir, may Allah be pleased with him
«عن حميد بن هلال ان هشام بن عامر قرأ فقيل له اتقرأ خلف الامام قال انا لنفعل»
Hamid bin Hilal says that Hisham bin Amir was reciting behind the Imam. He was asked: Are you reciting behind the Imam? He replied: We do just that.
And in Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani, the words are as follows:
«جاء هشام بن عامر الي الصلاة فأسرع المشي فدخل المسجد فى الصلاة وقد حفظه النفس فجهر بالقراءة خلف الامام فلما قضي صلاته قيل له اتقرأ خلف الامام قال انا لنفعل»
Meaning Hisham bin Amir رضي الله عنه arrived quickly to the congregation with his breath heavy. Despite that, he recited what was audible. Then he was asked: Do you also recite behind the Imam? He replied: That is what we do.
Allama Haithami
writes that رجاله موثوقون meaning the narrators of this hadith are trustworthy.
Narration Number 16
From Abdullah bin Mughaffal رضي الله عنه
«عن عبدالله بن مغفل رضى الله عنه انه كان يقرأ فى الظهر و العصر خلف الامام بفاتحة الكتاب و سورة فى الأوليين و فى الاخريين بفاتحة الكتاب فقط»
Abdullah bin Mughaffal رضي الله عنه used to recite behind the Imam Surah Al-Fatiha and another Surah in the first two Rak’ahs of Dhuhr and Asr, and only Surah Al-Fatiha in the last two Rak’ahs.
Narration Number 17
From Ali and Jabir رضي الله عنهما
«عن على و جابر بن عبدالله رضي الله عنهما قال لا يقرأ الامام و من خلفه فى الأوليين الا بفاتحة الكتاب وسورة و فى الاخريين بفاتحة الكتاب»
The Commander of the Faithful Ali and Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with them both, used to say that the Imam and the follower should recite Surah Al-Fatiha and another Surah in the first two Rak’ahs, and only Surah Al-Fatiha in the last two Rak’ahs.
From these narrations and traditions, it is understood that among the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, this was also the practice; that is, they too believed in and practiced reciting Surah Al-Fatiha behind the Imam. After this, some narrations from the Tabi’in are mentioned.
