Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 373Issue: Is the Rak‘ah Valid If the Follower Joins Only in Rukū‘ Without Reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah?
❖ Question:
If a follower (muqtadī) joins the Imam only during Rukū‘ and does not get the opportunity to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, should that Rak‘ah be counted for him?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, Ammā ba‘d:
A person who joins the Imam only in Rukū‘ and is unable to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, his Rak‘ah will not be counted.
This is based on an authentic ḥadīth which clearly states:
"Do not recite anything except Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, for indeed, whoever does not recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, his prayer is invalid."
(Kitāb al-Qirā’ah by al-Bayhaqī, Page 64, Ḥadīth 121 — He stated: This chain is authentic)
❖ Explanation:
◈ The recitation of Sūrah al-Fātiḥah is a fundamental condition (sharṭ) of the prayer.
◈ If someone joins during Rukū‘ but does not get a chance to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, then that Rak‘ah is not valid.
◈ The statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is very clear:
"لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِهَا"
“There is no prayer for the one who does not recite it [Sūrah al-Fātiḥah].”
For Further Reading:
- Shahādat Monthly, Volume 6, Issue 11, November 1999, Page 33
- Shahādat Monthly, January 2000
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
