❀ Question ❀
What is the ruling on performing prayer without reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah? Are such prayers required to be repeated? Please explain in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. جزاكم الله خيرا✔ Ruling on Omitting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in Prayer
Yes, prayer is not valid without reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah because it is an essential pillar (rukn) of the prayer. The Prophet ﷺ clearly stated:"There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (al-Fātiḥah)."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 714)
This indicates that reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in every rakʿah is obligatory, and a prayer without it is considered invalid.
✔ Ruling on Past Prayers Performed Without Knowledge
If a person performed prayers in the past without reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah due to ignorance, the ruling is more lenient:◉ Such a person is considered excused.
◉ It is hoped that Allah will accept those prayers due to their unawareness.
◉ They are not required to repeat those past prayers.
However, it is necessary that they:
✔ Seek forgiveness from Allah ﷻ
✔ Ensure to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in every rakʿah of prayer going forward
❀ Summary ❀
◉ Sūrah al-Fātiḥah is a pillar of the prayer; without it, the prayer is not valid.◉ Past prayers without it, due to ignorance, are forgiven, and do not need to be repeated.
◉ Now that the correct ruling is known, every rakʿah must include Sūrah al-Fātiḥah for the prayer to be valid.
