| The third question of Fatwa no. 17549 Q 3: How can we reconcile between the following two Hadiths:  “No Salah (Prayer) for the one who does not recite Fatiha-tul-Kitab (the Opening of the Book, i.e. Al-Fatihah).” And: “Anyone who catches up with one Rak’ah from Salah has caught up with the Salah.”Is it obligatory to recite Al-Fatihah in every Rak‘ah (unit of Prayer)? Could you kindly advise? May Allah protect you. A: There is no contradiction between the obligation of reciting Surah Al-Fatihah in Salah and the fact of catching up with the Rak’ah by catching up with Ruku` (bowing). | | (Part No. 5; Page No. 324) | |
In this case, Fatihah will not be obligatory for the latecomer, because the position where it should be recited is missed, that is Qiyam (standing) which is a Rukn (essential element) in each Rak‘ah for both the Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) and the Munfarid (one praying one). It is also an obligation on the Ma’mum (a person being led by an Imam in Prayer) but it is removed if they forget, or do not know its ruling, or do not catch up the recital of Fatihah with the Imam, based on the Hadith reported by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih Book on the authority of Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he came to the Masjid (mosque) while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was in the Ruku‘, so he knelt down before he could join the row then he stood in the row. Thereupon, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him after Taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer), “May Allah increase your zeal, but do not repeat it again.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not command Abu Bakrah to make up the Rak‘ah, which indicates that the Ma’mum is exempted from reciting Al-Fatihah in such a case. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions. Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’ |
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