FatwaFederal TerritoriesPrayer (Salah)
AL-KAFI #1271: IMAM TERTINGGAL SATU AYAT AL-FATIHAH
Is the prayer valid if the imam misses a verse of al-Fatihah, and what should the imam and the congregation do?
Short answer
In the Shafi'i school, reciting al-Fatihah is a pillar of prayer, including the basmalah and in the correct order.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
In the Shafi'i school, reciting al-Fatihah is a pillar of prayer, including the basmalah and in the correct order. If the imam forgets and remembers during the prayer or shortly after the salam, he adds one rakaat as a replacement and performs the prostration of forgetfulness, and his prayer is not invalidated. If a long time has passed, the prayer must be repeated. The followers may continue behind the imam, or intend separation (mufaraqah) if the imam does not make up the rakaat.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Sekiranya seseorang itu tidak membaca surah al-Fatihah di dalam mana-mana rakaat maka solatnya itu tidak sah.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #1271: IMAM TERTINGGAL SATU AYAT AL-FATIHAH”, 1 June 2019. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/3441-al-kafi-1271-imam-tertinggal-satu-ayat-al-fatihah. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/imam-misses-verse-of-al-fatihah/