Ruling on Reciting Al-Fatihah by the Person Led in Prayer

13-9-2023 | IslamWeb

Question:

When should I stop reciting fatiha in salah? Should I stop when the imam starts to recite takbir intiqal to ruku' or when he is in ruku' position fully?. The imam started to recite takbir for ruku' while I just finished recited "Iyya kana'budu wa Iyya kanasta'iin" and I didn't continue the next verse, should I repeat this prayer?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The view of the majority of scholars is that the imam’s recitation is valid and sufficient for the one being led in prayer (Al-Ma'mum), and that it is not obligatory for the one being led to recite Al-Fatihah, neither in silent prayers nor in loud prayers. Instead, it is Sunnah for him to recite in silent prayers. According to this saying, you bow down in Rukoo’ as soon as the imam bows down in Rukoo’, and your prayer is valid. According to the majority of scholars, your prayer is valid, and you do not have to repeat it. The second opinion is that of the school of Imam As-Shafi’i may Allaah have mercy upon him which is that the person being led in prayer has to recite Al-Fatihah. This second opinion is the one we adopt in our fatwas on our website, but as long as your action is in accordance with the opinion of the majority of scholars, then we see that you do not have to repeat that prayer.

However, you should consider this in your next prayers, so complete Al-Fatihah and then bow down in Rukoo’.

Allah knows best.

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