Question: Will the follower (muqtadi) recite Surah al-Fatiha behind the imam, or only in his solitary prayer? Please guide us from the Quran and Sunnah.
Answer: According to authentic hadiths, reciting Surah al-Fatiha is obligatory for the imam, the follower and the one praying alone, in every prayer, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَا صَلٰوةَ لِمَنْ لَّمْ يَقْرَأُ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ
“Sayyiduna Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘There is no prayer for one who does not recite Surah al-Fatiha.'”
From this hadith it is known that whoever prays, whether imam or follower, whether alone or in congregation, if he does not recite Surah al-Fatiha, his prayer is not valid.
In explaining this hadith, Allama Qastallani (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
اَيْ فِيْ رَكْعَةٍ مُّنْفَرِدًا اَوْ اِمَامًا اَوْ مَأْمُوْمًا سَوَاءً اَسَرَّ الْاِمَامُ اَوْ جَهَرَ
“The purpose of this hadith is that in every rak’ah, every worshipper, whether imam, one praying alone or follower, whether the imam recites quietly or aloud, reciting al-Fatiha is necessary in every case.”
Similarly, Allama Kirmani in his commentary on Bukhari says:
وَفِي الْحَدِيْثِ دَلِيْلٌ عَلٰي اَنَّ قِرَاءَةَ الْفَاتِحَةِ وَاجِبَةٌ عَلَي الْاِمَامِ وَالْمَأْمُوْمِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ كُلِّهَا
“This hadith is evidence that Surah al-Fatiha is obligatory upon the imam and the follower in every prayer.”
Likewise, another hadith narrates that Sayyiduna Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “At dawn we were praying behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he was reciting, and the recitation became difficult for him. After finishing the prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Perhaps you recite behind the imam?’ We said: ‘We recite quickly.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Only recite Surah al-Fatiha, for there is no prayer without it.'”
From these hadiths it is known that reciting Surah al-Fatiha in prayer is obligatory on every worshipper.
