Komashisha
By: Shaykh Faizulhaq Abdulaziz
If the person is an Imam or Munfarid (lonely), for them to recite Qirat in salah is compulsory according to all the Imams. There is no difrences of the opinions amongst the Salaf (ancestors) regarding them. However, if the person is reading salah behind an Imam, should he recite behind the imam or not, there are 3 opinions found amongst the Salaf, and they all have extracted their opinions from Qur’an, Sunnah and practices of the Salaf. The dispute in this issue is not of Afdhaliyyah only, infact it’s about legality.
Opinions of the Scholars:
(1) Imam Abu Hanifa Nu’man Ibn Thabit (ra), Imam Sufyan Al Thawri (ra) & Imam Sufyan Ibn ‘Uyainah (ra) said, if the person is a Muqtadee (reading behind an imam) He doesn’t have to recite. Infact, Imams recitation will be sufficent for him.
Their proofs;
(a) In the Holy Qur’an it’s stated “when the Qur’an is recited listen attentively and remain silent so that you may have mercy”. Surah Al A’raf 204.
(b) Sayyiduna Abu Musa Al Ash’aree (ra) has narrated from Holy Prophet (saw) that he said, “when you pray, make sure you straighten your raws, than one of you should lead you in salah, when he has says Takbeer than you say Takbeer, When he recites Qur’an you remain silent and when he recites
“غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين”
You say Aameen”. Muslim 404, chapter of Tashahhud.
(c) Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (ra) has narrated from Holy Prophet (saw) that he said, “Imam is appointed so that he may be followed, so when he says Takbeer you say Takbeer and when he recites Qur’an you be silent”. Nasaie 922.
(d) Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (ra) has narrated that, once prophet (saw) completed his loud prayers and asked, has anyone recited with me now? One man replied yes I did oh prophet of Allah. Holy Prophet (saw) than said, “I was saying why Qur’an is getting snatched from me”. Upon hearing this Sahabah stopped reciting Qur’an in loud Salah behind Holy Prophet (saw)”. Tirmidhi 312.
(e) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (ra) has narrated from Holy Prophet (saw) that he said, “whoever has an Imam, than Imam’s reciting will suffice him”. Muatta of Imam Muhammad pg 97–98. Khateeb Al Baghdadi fil Tareekh.
(f) Sayyiduna Jabir Ibn Abdillah (ra) has narrated that Holy Prophet (saw) has said, “whoever has an Imam, than Imam’s reciting will suffice him”. Ibn Majah 850.
(g) Sayyiduna Jabir Ibn Abdillah (ra) has also narrated from Holy Prophet (saw) that, “Whoever doesn’t recite Surah Al Fatihah in salah, his salah will not be valid unless he is behind an Imam”. Tirmidhi under Hadith no 312.
(h) Amongst the Sahabah those who had the opinion of not reciting behind the Imam are;
■All the 4 caliphs, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Al Siddiq (ra), Sayyiduna ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattab (ra), Sayyiduna Uthman Ibn ‘Affan (ra) & Sayyiduna Ali Ibn Abi Talib (ra), Musannaf ‘Abdurrazzaq, H 2810, H 2806.
■Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (ra), Majma’ Al Zawaid pg110-111/2.
■Sayyiduna Sa’ad Ibn Abi Waqqas (ra), Muatta of Imam Muhammad pg 101-102.
■Sayyiduna Zaid Ibn Thabit (ra), Muatta of Imam Muhammad pg 102.
■Sayyiduna Jabir Ibn Abdillah (ra), Muatta of Imam Malik pg 66.
■Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (ra), Muatta of Imam Malik pg 68.
■Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (ra), Sharh Ma’aanil Aathar of Imam Tahawi pg 108.
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●(2) Imam Malik Ibn Anas (ra), Imam ‘Abdullah Ibn Al Mubarak (ra) and Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal (ra) said, The Muqtadee will recite behind the imam in silent prayers only he won’t recite in loud prayers. Their proof is the Hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (ra) He said, “once Holy Prophet (saw) completed his loud prayers and asked, has anyone recited with me now? One man replied yes I did oh prophet of Allah. Holy Prophet (saw) than said, “I was saying why Qur’an is getting snatched from me”. Upon hearing this Sahabah stopped reciting Qur’an in loud Salah behind Holy Prophet (saw)”. Tirmidhi 312, Abu Dawud 826, Nasaie 920,
Note: According to Malikiyyah & Hanabilah, reciting Al Fatihah behind the Imam in silent Salah is considered desirable. However, one of the opinions of Malikiyyah is for wujub.
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●(3) Imam Muhammad Ibn Idrees Al Shafi’ee (ra), Imam ‘Abdurrahman Al Awza’ee (ra) and Imam Laith Ibn Sa’ad (ra) said, Muqtadee has to recite behind the Imam in all the Salah either it’s loud or silent. Their proof is the Hadith of Sayyiduna ‘Ubadah Ibn Al Samit (ra) he narrated, “Once Holy Prophet (saw) lead Fajr Salah and it was difficult for him to recite, upon completion of salah he asked, I presume you were reciting behind your Imam, Sahabah replied yes we did. Holy Prophet (saw) than said “don’t recite anything behind the imam apart from Surah Al Fatiha because salah is not complete without reciting Al Fatihah”. Tirmidhi 311, Abu Dawud 823.
Allahu A’lam.
Shaykh Faizulhaq Abdulaziz
Lecturer of Hadith @ Jamia Islamia Birmingham.
