The Obligation of Reciting Soorah Al-Faatihah on the Imaam, the Followers and the One Praying Alone, in Both Silent and Audible Prayers, in every Salaah and in every Rak`ah, and Evidence that it is one of the Pillars of the Salaah:
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said: “There is no Salaah for him who did not recite Soorah Al-Faatihah.”
Reported by Al-Bukhaaree (756) and Muslim (872).
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said: “That Salaah is not valid in which Soorah Al-Faatihah was not recited.”
Authenticated by Ibn Khuzaimah (490), Ibn Hibbaan (1789, 1794), Ad-Daaraqutnee (1225), Ibn-ul-Qattaan (C.f. Nasb-ur-Raayah, 1/365), An-Nawawee (1340), Ibn-ul-Mulaqqin (Al-Badr, 3/541; Khulaasat-ul-Badr, 381; Al-I`laam, 2/409), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan, 1789, 1794) and Al-Hilaalee (Takhreej-ul-Muharrar, 228).
Ibn Hajar said: “Its narrators are reliable.” (Ad-Diraayah, 1/137).
Rifaa`ah ibn Raafi` Az-Zuraqee (radiyallaahu `anhu) said: “A man came while the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) was in the mosque, and prayed close by him, then he turned and greeted him. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said to him:
“Repeat your Salaah, for you have not prayed.” So the man returned and prayed in the manner that he had prayed before, and then turned to the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) and greeted him. He (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Repeat your Salaah, for you have not prayed.” So he said:
“O Messenger of Allaah! How should I do so?” He replied:
“When you face the Qiblah, make Takbeer (i.e. say: Allaahu Akbar), recite Soorat-ul-Faatihah and then recite what you wish (from the Qur’aan). Then, when you make rukoo` (bowing) put your palms on your knees and straighten your back firmly, and when you raise your head (from Rukoo`) make your spine upright until the bones (of the spine) return to their joints. Then, when you prostrate be firm in your prostration and when you raise your head sit on your left thigh. Then, do all that in every rak`ah.”
Authenticated by Ibn Hibbaan (1788, 1890), Adh-Dhahabee (At-Tanqeeh, 1/161, D. Watan ed.), Ibn-ul-Mulaqqin (Al-I`laam, 3/173; Tuhfat-ul-Muhtaaj, 1/291), Ibn Hajar (1/453), An-Naymawee (Aathaar-us-Sunan, 1/74), Al-Albaanee (Saheeh Abee Daawood, 4/9-10; Saheeh-ul-Jaami`, 324; Al-Mishkaah, 769) and Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan, 1788, 1890).
`Ubaadah ibn As-Saamit (radiyallaahu `anhu) said: “We were praying Fajr Salaah behind the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) when the recitation became difficult for him, so when he concluded the Salaah, he said:
“Perhaps you recite behind your Imaam?” We said:
“Yes, O Messenger of Allaah!” He said:
“Do not do so except for Soorah Al-Faatihah because there is no Salaah for him who did not recite it.” And in another narration:
“Each of you should recite Soorah Al-Faatihah to himself.”
Authenticated by At-Tirmidhee (311), Ibn Khuzaimah (1581), Ibn Hibbaan (1785, 1792, 1848), Ad-Daaraqutnee (1213, 1220), Al-Khattaabee (Ma`aalim-us-Sunan, 1/390), Al-Haakim (1/238), and Adh-Dhahabee agreed, Al-Baihaqee (Al-Kubraa, 2/164; Al-Qiraa’ah, 114, 121), Ibn Hazm (Al-Muhallaa, 3/236), An-Nawawee (1447), Ibn-ul-Mulaqqin (Al-Badr, 3/547; Al-I`laam, 3/189-190; Tuhfat-ul-Muhtaaj, 1/296), Ibn Hajar (1/452), Ibn `Allaan (Al-Futoohaat-ur-Rabbaaniyyah, 2/193), Ash-Shaukaanee (Al-Fath-ur-Rabbaanee, 6/3221), Al-Qaasimee (Mahaasin-ut-Ta’weel, 7/293), Al-Laknawee (As-Sa`aayah, 2/303), Al-Mubaarakfooree (Tahqeeq-ul-Kalaam, p.136-165; Abkaar-ul-Minan, p.431-460), Ahmad Shaakir (Sunan-ut-Tirmidhee, 2/93), `Ubaidullaah Al-Mubaarakfooree (Mir`aat-ul-Mafaateeh, 859), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Sharh-us-Sunnah, 606; Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan, 1785, 1782, 1848; Musnad Ahmad, 22671; Sunan-ud-Daaraqutnee, 1213), Al-Hilaalee (Takhreej-ul-Muharrar, 232), Az-Zuhairee (Buloogh-ul-Maraam, 277), Husayn Asad (Al-Mawaarid, 460, 461), `Abdullaah Al-Luhaidaan (Mukhtasar Istidraak-idh-Dhahabee, 48), Al-Atharee (Tawdeeh-ul-Kalaam, p.212-355), Al-Ityoobee (Sharh-un-Nasaa’ee, 11/340-353) and others.
Its isnaad was authenticated by Ibn `Abdil-Barr (Al-Istidhkaar, 2/190; C.f. Bidaayat-ul-Mujtahid, 1/299) and Al-Kashmeeree (Al-`Arf-ush-Shadhee, p.153; Ma`aarif-us-Sunan, 3/199).
Its authenticity was alluded to by Ibn Daqeeq Al-`Eed (Al-Ilmaam, 259) and Ibn-ul-Qayyim (Tahdheeb-us-Sunan ma`al-Awn, 3/45, 52).
Ibn `Abdil-Haadee (Al-Muharrar, 232), Ibn-ul-Qayyim (2/294) and others attributed its authentication to Al-Bukhaaree.
