The Correct Meaning of “اقرأ بها في نفسك” Behind the Imām
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri❀ Question:
What is the correct meaning of the phrase "اقْرَأْ بِهَا فِي نَفْسِكَ"?
✿ Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد
Let us first review the complete narration:
❖ Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Whoever offers a prayer in which he does not recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, his prayer is incomplete, incomplete, incomplete – not complete."
It was asked of Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه: "What if we are behind the Imām?"
He replied: "اقْرَأْ بِهَا فِي نَفْسِكَ" — "Recite it quietly to yourself."
[Muwaṭṭa Imām Mālik: 1/84, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 395]✦ Meaning of "اقْرَأْ بِهَا فِي نَفْسِكَ"
This phrase means: Recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah silently (in a low voice that you can hear yourself).
It does not mean to merely reflect upon or ponder without actual recitation. The scholars of ḥadīth — who are the true guardians of the Prophet’s words and their meanings — have consistently understood it in the context of actual recitation by the tongue, even if done silently.
Explanation and Scholarly Views:
① Context of the Statement Supports Recitation for the Follower (Muqtadī)
When asked: “We are behind the Imām?” Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه responded: “Recite it silently.”
➤ This clearly refers to the muqtadī, not the one praying alone (munfarid).
➤ The context does not support interpreting it for someone other than the follower.
② Not Limited to Silent (Sirrī) Prayers Only
Some claim this applies only in silent prayers. However, this is incorrect because:
"Indeed, I hear the recitation of the Imām."
[Musnad al-Ḥumaydī: 1004, Ṣaḥīḥ Abī ʿAwānah: 1680]This shows vocal (jahrī) prayers are in view — one can only hear the Imām in them.
③ Examples from the Companions Prove Recitation Behind Imām:
- Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said:
"When the Imām recites Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, you should also recite it — and try to finish before him."
[Juzʾ al-Qirāʾah by al-Bukhārī: 146 – sanad ḥasan]
- ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه instructed:
"Recite, even if you are behind me (in prayer).”
[Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: 3748 – sanad ṣaḥīḥ]
- Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
"Recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah behind the Imām."
[al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir: 1324 – sanad ṣaḥīḥ]
- Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنهما reported:
“In Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr, we used to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and another Sūrah behind the Imām in the first two rakʿāt, and only Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in the last two.”
[Sunan Ibn Mājah: 843 – sanad ṣaḥīḥ]
- Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه said:
"Recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah behind the Imām."
[al-Qirāʾah Khalfa al-Imām by al-Bukhārī: 27 – sanad ḥasan]
④ Refuting the Interpretation as 'Contemplation' or ‘Reflection’
Many scholars refute the claim that "اقْرَأْ بِهَا فِي نَفْسِكَ" means simply contemplation:
- Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله said:
“The meaning is to recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah quietly with the tongue, not just in the heart. Linguistically, recitation (قراءة) requires tongue movement audible to oneself.”
[al-Qirāʾah Khalfa al-Imām, p. 31]
- Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله explained:
“It means to recite quietly, enough for oneself to hear. The claim that it means contemplation or mental reading is linguistically and legally incorrect.”
[Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 4/103]
- ʿAllāmah Anwar Shāh Kashmīrī رحمه الله:
“Interpreting it as contemplation does not align with Arabic linguistic norms.”
[al-ʿUrf al-Shadhī: 1/78]
Hanafī References Also Affirm Silent Verbal Recitation:
- al-Hidāyah states regarding reading Ṣalāt on the Prophet ﷺ during the Friday khuṭbah:
"يصلي السامع فى نفسه" – the listener should send blessings silently.
➤ Explained in al-Kifāyah as:
"بِلسَانِهِ خفيا" – with the tongue, in a low voice.
- ʿAllāmah al-Mazharī Ḥanafī writes:
“One should recite in a way that he hears himself — not so loud that others are disturbed. If he cannot hear himself, the recitation is invalid.”
[al-Mafātīḥ Sharḥ al-Maṣābīḥ: 2/126]
- ʿAllāmah al-Sindhī Ḥanafī interprets:
"فِي نَفْسِكَ" means: سِرًّا — silently.
[Ḥāshiyah al-Sindhī ʿalā Sunan Ibn Mājah: 1/277]
- ʿAllāmah ʿAbd al-Ḥaqq al-Dehlawī رحمه الله states:
“Recite quietly enough to hear yourself.”
[Lumʿāt al-Tanqīḥ: 2/583]
⑤ Practice of the Tābiʿīn and Imāms:
- al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رحمه الله said:
“Recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah silently behind the Imām in every rakʿah.”
[Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: 1/374 – sanad ṣaḥīḥ]
- Imām al-Awzāʿī رحمه الله advised:
“The Imām should pause after Takbīr and after Fātiḥah so the follower can recite. If not, then the follower should recite along and quickly.”
[al-Qirāʾah Khalfa al-Imām by al-Bayhaqī, p. 71 – sanad ṣaḥīḥ]
Conclusion:
The correct and sound meaning of "اقْرَأْ بِهَا فِي نَفْسِكَ" is:
Recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah with your tongue, silently — in a voice audible to yourself, even when behind the Imām.
This is supported by:
✔ Explicit statements from Sahabah and Tābiʿīn
✔ Endorsement by muhaddithīn
✔ Linguistic norms and consensus of scholars
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
