❖ A Sound Athar from a Tābiʿī on Reciting Behind the Imam ❖
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 310
What is the authenticity of the narration in which ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUthmān ibn Khuthaym (رحمه الله) asked Saʿīd ibn Jubayr (رحمه الله), a Tābiʿī:
“Should I recite behind the Imam?”
And he replied affirmatively.
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Saʿīd ibn Jubayr (رحمه الله) replied:
"Yes, even if you hear the Imam’s recitation."
He further added:
“Indeed, these people have introduced a bidʿah (innovation) — that they do not pause. The Salaf did not act in this way.”
Then he clarified:
“Indeed, when someone from among the Salaf (i.e., the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ) would lead people in prayer, he would say ‘Allāhu Akbar’ and remain silent until he was confident that every follower had completed Sūrah al-Fātiḥah. Only then would he begin his recitation, and at that point, the followers would remain silent.”
✔ This narration has a ḥasan (sound) chain of transmission.
Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah by al-Bukhārī with Naṣr al-Bārī, pp. 83–84
Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq, Vol. 2, p. 134
Confirmed in the scholarly testimony dated March 2000.
✔ This is a sound narration from a Tābiʿī supporting recitation behind the Imam,
✔ even in audible prayers, regardless of whether the Imam is reciting aloud.
✔ It also affirms that the Salaf used to provide time for the followers to complete their recitation of Sūrah al-Fātiḥah before beginning their own.
هذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 310
❖ Question:
What is the authenticity of the narration in which ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUthmān ibn Khuthaym (رحمه الله) asked Saʿīd ibn Jubayr (رحمه الله), a Tābiʿī:
“Should I recite behind the Imam?”
And he replied affirmatively.
❖ Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
❖ The Report:
Saʿīd ibn Jubayr (رحمه الله) replied:
"Yes, even if you hear the Imam’s recitation."
He further added:
“Indeed, these people have introduced a bidʿah (innovation) — that they do not pause. The Salaf did not act in this way.”
Then he clarified:
“Indeed, when someone from among the Salaf (i.e., the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ) would lead people in prayer, he would say ‘Allāhu Akbar’ and remain silent until he was confident that every follower had completed Sūrah al-Fātiḥah. Only then would he begin his recitation, and at that point, the followers would remain silent.”
❖ Sharʿī Ruling:
✔ This narration has a ḥasan (sound) chain of transmission.
❖ Reference Works:
Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah by al-Bukhārī with Naṣr al-Bārī, pp. 83–84 Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq, Vol. 2, p. 134 Confirmed in the scholarly testimony dated March 2000.❖ Conclusion:
✔ This is a sound narration from a Tābiʿī supporting recitation behind the Imam,
✔ even in audible prayers, regardless of whether the Imam is reciting aloud.
✔ It also affirms that the Salaf used to provide time for the followers to complete their recitation of Sūrah al-Fātiḥah before beginning their own.
هذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
