The Shari‘ah Ruling on Responding to Verses During Salah
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
❖ Question
When the following verse from Surah Al-Fatihah is recited during Salah:
﴿إِيَّاكَ نَعبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَستَعِينُ﴾
some followers say “اِسْتَعَنَّا بِاللّٰہِ” (“We have sought help from Allah”).
What is the Shari‘ah ruling on this practice?
❖ Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba’d!
In Salah, the follower should:
❀ Remain silent and attentively listen to the Imam’s recitation.
❀ When the Imam completes the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and says “Ameen,” the follower should also say “Ameen.”
❀ Saying “Ameen” fulfills the Sunnah response at that point, and there is no need for any other speech.
❀ Therefore, verbally responding to verses during the Imam’s recitation — such as saying “اِسْتَعَنَّا بِاللّٰہِ” — is against Shari‘ah and not permissible.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
