Reciting Sūrat al-Fātiḥah Behind the Imam: When and How?
Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 143
Question Clarified
Several narrations are cited regarding reciting Sūrat al-Fātiḥah behind the imam. The question arises:
- Do these narrations about the imam’s “two pauses” have authenticity?
- Should one act upon them?
- If most imams today do not observe two pauses, is the second pause necessary or not?
Narrations and Analysis
(1) Ḥadīth of Samurah ibn Jundub (RA)
"The Prophet ﷺ had two pauses: one when beginning the prayer, and one after finishing recitation."
- This narration is weak (ḍaʿīf) due to Ḥasan al-Baṣrī’s tadlīs and irsāl without hearing evidence.
- References: Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl (2/284, ḥadīth 505), Silsilah Ḍaʿīfah (2/25-26, ḥadīth 547).
(2) Ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (RA)
"The Companions used to recite when the Prophet ﷺ was silent. When he recited, they remained silent."
- This relates to pauses within recitation, not two fixed silences.
- What is authentically established: after takbīrat al-taḥrīmah and before recitation, the Prophet ﷺ paused briefly.
- Thus, only one pause is proven, not two.
(3) The Sermon Narration
"Whoever prays behind the imam should recite al-Fātiḥah during the imam’s silence."
- Chains include weak narrators (Ibn Luhayʿah, Mathnā ibn Ṣabbāḥ).
- Even if considered ḥasan li-ghayrih, it only proves one pause before recitation, not after.
(4) Report of Abū Hurayrah (RA)
"The imam has two pauses, recite al-Fātiḥah in both."
- This report is mawqūf (a Companion’s saying, not the Prophet’s).
- Furthermore, another narration from Abū Hurayrah (RA) says: “Recite before the imam”, showing he did not affirm a second pause.
- Likely a narrator’s confusion attributing another’s statement to Abū Hurayrah (RA).
(5) Report
"When the imam recites al-Fātiḥah, you also recite al-Fātiḥah, but before him."
- This confirms Abū Hurayrah (RA)’s view: recitation should be before the imam’s recitation, not during a second silence.
Conclusion
- The narration of two pauses is weak and unreliable.
- Only one pause (after opening takbīr and before recitation) is established from the Prophet ﷺ.
- The practice of the Companions and the jurists also followed this.
- Abū Hurayrah (RA) himself instructed recitation before the imam, not during a second silence.
- Thus, the so-called second pause after recitation is neither established, nor necessary, nor a Sunnah to follow.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
"This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct."
