THE MOST CLEAR STAND REGARDING THE RECITATION OF SUURATUL FAATIHA BEHIND THE IMAAM All perfect adorations be to Allaah and we beseech the peace and blessings of Allaah upon the noble prophet Muhammad. This is indeed a matter that requires understanding it properly as we have seen many of the Ulaama speak about this important fiqh matter extensively. Imaam Noosiruddeen Al-albaani spoke regarding this matter extensively bringing many adilla from kitaab and sunnah in the subsection of his book sifaatu ssolaat nnobiyy. The stand of shaykh Al-albaani is that: A person who has an Imaam he is following does not need to recite suuratul faatiha based on the hadeeth reported by al-arba that the prophet said: The recitation of the Imaam stands for those behind him. So therefore the mamoomeen(congregation) behind do not need to recite anything as that(i.e suuratul faatiha) of the Imaam stands for theirs too. Regarding the hadeeth of Abuu Hurayrah which said the prophet said: Whosoever does not recite suuratul faatiha does not have solaat. He(Shaykh Al-albaani) said this hadeeth has a ruling which is khaas(restricted to an individual or particular situation). So what his statement means is that: It is only when a person performs solaat individually that suuratul faatiha becomes obligatory upon him and not when he prays behind the Imaam as the Imaams recitation stands for his too). He also brought forth the evidence of the verse in suuratul Aaroof where Allaah said: And when the Quran is being recited; listen to it and be silent so that you might be successful. As suuratul faatiha is a part of the Quran! And other adilla Shaykh Al-albaani brought forth to support his mowqif. However, Other scholars like Shaykh Uthaymeen and Shaykh Ibn baaz said in their explanations regarding Qirootul Quran khalfal Imaam according to their mowqif that: A person praying behind an Imaam is expected to recite suuratul faatiha. Why? This is because it is authentically reported from Abuu Hurayrah that the prophet said: There is no solaat for the one who does not recite suuratul faatiha(or mother of the book in another naration). They in their own explaination said that the ruling of this hadeeth is aam(general). So it is applied to every situation;whether one performs solaat behind the Imaam or when praying alone; suuratul faatiha is to be recited. Meanwhile, they also brought forth the evidence of a reliably authentic hadeeth where the prophet heared the companions reciting behind him. After solaat, the prophet said: I heared you chanting behind me during solaat; Know that: If you must recite anything(behind the Imaam), It must not go beyond suuratul faatiha! Scholars like them also added that: Reciting other than faatiha behind the Imaam is makruuh(disliked) as what Allaah said in suuratul Aarof is that: And when the Quran is being recited; listen to it and be silent so that you might be successful. We however find some muslims today recitation more than suuratul faatiha during solaat thereby competing wit the Imaam in his recitation of a particular suurat. This is very wrong indeed! Therefore, personally as a toolibul Ilm I hold a mowqif that its more coorect to recite suuratul faatiha behind the Imaam. Apart from the evidences which establishes clearity of reciting behind the Imaam. I strongly advise as the scholars of shareea would also say: Al-hukmu bil-mokaan(Judgement is based on environmental situation or condition). The condition of the Quran recitation of many of those who hold positions of Imaam in the Ummah today is nothing to write home about! So this stand is most correct(i.e reciting suuratul faatiha behind the Imaam) for many of the mosaajid in Nigeria(southwest particularly) where some of the Imaams still recite for example siroota instead of sirooto or walallooleen instead of waladdooleen. And Indeed none can guide except Allaah.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 10:34:57 +0000
Trending Topics
© 2015