FatwaFederal TerritoriesPrayer (Salah)
BAYAN LINNAS SIRI KE-177: BACAAN AL-FATIHAH DALAM SOLAT DENGAN BAHASA INGGERIS
Can Surah al-Fatihah be recited in English during prayer?
Short answer
Reciting al-Fatihah is a spoken pillar of prayer according to the majority of Maliki, Shafii and Hanbali scholars, while the Hanafi school regards it as obligatory but not a pillar.
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
- Bayan Linnas
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Reciting al-Fatihah is a spoken pillar of prayer according to the majority of Maliki, Shafii and Hanbali scholars, while the Hanafi school regards it as obligatory but not a pillar. It must be recited in Arabic and may not be translated, because translation removes the miraculous nature of the Quran. Someone unable to recite it should recite substitutes from other surahs, also in Arabic. One Hanafi opinion permits reciting a translation for those who do not master Arabic, but the majority view does not allow it, and the fatwa advises gradual memorisation.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Solat tidak sah jika tidak membaca surah al-Fatihah.
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. “BAYAN LINNAS SIRI KE-177: BACAAN AL-FATIHAH DALAM SOLAT DENGAN BAHASA INGGERIS”, 5 May 2019. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/bayan-linnas/3365-bayan-linnas-siri-ke-177-bacaan-al-fatihah-dalam-solat-dengan-bahasa-inggeris. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/reciting-al-fatihah-in-english-during-prayer/