◈ 17 Statements from the Noble Companions on Reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah Behind the Imām in Audible and Silent Prayers ◈
Excerpted from the book “Fātiḥah Khalf al-Imām” by Shaykh Badīʿ al-Dīn Shāh al-Rāshdī
Source: Al-Dāraqutnī, Vol. 1, p. 317
Yazīd ibn Sharīk reports: I asked ʿUmar about reciting behind the Imām. He said: “Recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah.”
I asked: “Even if it’s you (leading)?” He said: “Even if it is me.”
I asked: “Even if you're reciting aloud?” He said: “Even then.”
✦ All narrators of this report are trustworthy.
Sources: Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah of al-Bukhārī, p. 15; al-Bayhaqī, p. 62
ʿAlī used to instruct and prefer that behind the Imām, in Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr, people recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and another sūrah in the first two rakʿāt, and Sūrah al-Fātiḥah alone in the final two.
He used to command recitation behind the Imām.
Source: Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah of al-Bukhārī, pp. 15–16
Abū Maryam said: “I heard Ibn Masʿūd reciting behind the Imām.”
Sources: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 64
He said: “Recite behind the Imām whether he recites aloud or silently.”
In another narration: “Do not abandon reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah — whether the Imām recites aloud or silently.”
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 62
When asked about reciting behind the Imām, he replied: “Yes.”
He himself would recite behind the Imām.
Source: Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah of al-Bukhārī, p. 62
When asked about reciting behind the Imām, he said: “Sūrah al-Fātiḥah.”
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 68
He said: “A Muslim’s prayer is not valid unless it includes purification, rukūʿ, sujūd, and reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah — whether behind the Imām or not.”
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 75
After prayer, when asked if he had recited Sūrah al-Fātiḥah behind the Imām, he said: “Yes, because there is no prayer without it.”
Sources: Al-Bukhārī, pp. 14–15; Al-Bayhaqī, p. 64
He said: “There is no harm in reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah silently behind the Imām.”
Also said: “I am ashamed before the Lord of this House (Kaʿbah) to pray two rakʿāt without reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah or something additional.”
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 80
Both instructed to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and another sūrah in the first two rakʿāt of Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr behind the Imām, and only Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in the last two.
Abū Hurayrah also advised reciting it silently.
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 68
He said: “Do not abandon reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah behind the Imām, whether he recites aloud or silently.”
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 68
He commanded reciting behind the Imām.
He would recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and a short sūrah, audibly enough for others to learn from him.
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 63
He said: “When the Imām recites, then recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and Qul huwa Allāhu Aḥad. If you cannot hear him, then recite silently — do not disturb others on your right or left.”
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 65
When a student saw someone reciting behind the Imām and asked Mujāhid about it, he responded: “I heard ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr reciting behind the Imām.”
Sources: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 67; al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr
When someone remarked upon him reciting behind the Imām, he said: “Yes, that is our practice.”
He even recited audibly while catching his breath upon arriving late for prayer.
Al-Haythamī said: “Its narrators are reliable.”
Source: Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah of al-Bukhārī, p. 16
He used to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and another sūrah behind the Imām in the first two rakʿāt of Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr, and only Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in the last two.
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 67
Both used to say: “The Imām and follower should recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and another sūrah in the first two rakʿāt, and only Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in the last two.”
These 17 detailed reports explicitly support the practice of reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah behind the Imām, whether in audible or silent prayers. The noble Companions themselves acted upon it, instructed others, and considered it essential to the validity and completeness of ṣalāh.
Excerpted from the book “Fātiḥah Khalf al-Imām” by Shaykh Badīʿ al-Dīn Shāh al-Rāshdī
❖ Statements from the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ ❖
① ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه
Source: Al-Dāraqutnī, Vol. 1, p. 317
Yazīd ibn Sharīk reports: I asked ʿUmar about reciting behind the Imām. He said: “Recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah.”
I asked: “Even if it’s you (leading)?” He said: “Even if it is me.”
I asked: “Even if you're reciting aloud?” He said: “Even then.”
✦ All narrators of this report are trustworthy.
② ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه
Sources: Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah of al-Bukhārī, p. 15; al-Bayhaqī, p. 62
ʿAlī used to instruct and prefer that behind the Imām, in Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr, people recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and another sūrah in the first two rakʿāt, and Sūrah al-Fātiḥah alone in the final two.
He used to command recitation behind the Imām.
③ ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه
Source: Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah of al-Bukhārī, pp. 15–16
Abū Maryam said: “I heard Ibn Masʿūd reciting behind the Imām.”
④ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما
Sources: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 64
He said: “Recite behind the Imām whether he recites aloud or silently.”
In another narration: “Do not abandon reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah — whether the Imām recites aloud or silently.”
⑤ Ubayy ibn Kaʿb رضي الله عنه
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 62
When asked about reciting behind the Imām, he replied: “Yes.”
He himself would recite behind the Imām.
⑥ Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه
Source: Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah of al-Bukhārī, p. 62
When asked about reciting behind the Imām, he said: “Sūrah al-Fātiḥah.”
⑦ ʿImrān ibn Ḥuṣayn رضي الله عنه
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 68
He said: “A Muslim’s prayer is not valid unless it includes purification, rukūʿ, sujūd, and reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah — whether behind the Imām or not.”
⑧ ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit رضي الله عنه
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 75
After prayer, when asked if he had recited Sūrah al-Fātiḥah behind the Imām, he said: “Yes, because there is no prayer without it.”
⑨ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما
Sources: Al-Bukhārī, pp. 14–15; Al-Bayhaqī, p. 64
He said: “There is no harm in reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah silently behind the Imām.”
Also said: “I am ashamed before the Lord of this House (Kaʿbah) to pray two rakʿāt without reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah or something additional.”
⑩ Abū Hurayrah & ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنهما
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 80
Both instructed to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and another sūrah in the first two rakʿāt of Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr behind the Imām, and only Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in the last two.
Abū Hurayrah also advised reciting it silently.
⑪ Abū al-Dardāʾ رضي الله عنه
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 68
He said: “Do not abandon reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah behind the Imām, whether he recites aloud or silently.”
⑫ Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 68
He commanded reciting behind the Imām.
He would recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and a short sūrah, audibly enough for others to learn from him.
⑬ Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 63
He said: “When the Imām recites, then recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and Qul huwa Allāhu Aḥad. If you cannot hear him, then recite silently — do not disturb others on your right or left.”
⑭ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنهما
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 65
When a student saw someone reciting behind the Imām and asked Mujāhid about it, he responded: “I heard ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr reciting behind the Imām.”
⑮ Hishām ibn ʿĀmir رضي الله عنه
Sources: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 67; al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr
When someone remarked upon him reciting behind the Imām, he said: “Yes, that is our practice.”
He even recited audibly while catching his breath upon arriving late for prayer.
Al-Haythamī said: “Its narrators are reliable.”
⑯ ʿAbdullāh ibn Mughaffal رضي الله عنه
Source: Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah of al-Bukhārī, p. 16
He used to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and another sūrah behind the Imām in the first two rakʿāt of Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr, and only Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in the last two.
⑰ ʿAlī and Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh رضي الله عنهما
Source: Al-Bayhaqī, p. 67
Both used to say: “The Imām and follower should recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and another sūrah in the first two rakʿāt, and only Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in the last two.”
Conclusion:
These 17 detailed reports explicitly support the practice of reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah behind the Imām, whether in audible or silent prayers. The noble Companions themselves acted upon it, instructed others, and considered it essential to the validity and completeness of ṣalāh.
