Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

When is it appropriate *not* to follow al-Fatehah with another passage of Qur`an during salaat? I`ve read that the prophet, peace be upon him, performed fajr salaat with only that surah. True? Are there other times this is permissible?

Shukran,

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Rakah with Surah Fateha alone

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: When is it appropriate *not* to follow al-Fatehah with another passage of Qur`an during salaat?

One of the obligatory conditions of offering the prayer in Islam is to recite the Surah Al-Fatihah in every rakah of the prayer, without which the prayer would become invalid.

Ibadah ibn as-Samit related that the Prophet (saws) said, "There is no prayer for one who does not recite the opening of the Book (Surah Al-Fatihah)."

Related by Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah and An-Nisai.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "Whoever prays a prayer and does not recite the opening chapter of the Qur'an (Surah Al-Fatihah) has not prayed correctly."

Related by Ahmad, Bukhari and Muslim.

Said Abu Sa'eed, "We were ordered to recite the opening chapter of the Qur'an (Surah Al-Fatihah) and what (else) was easy (for us)."

Related by Abu Dawud. Al-Hafez and Ibn Sayyid.

Although it is not obligatory to recite another passage or Surah of the Quran after the recitation of Surah Fatihah in every rakah of the prayer, it is a preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

The only times it is considered a Sunnah and thus appropriate ‘not’ to recite another passage or Surah from the Glorious Quran after Surah Al-Fatihah is in the last two rakahs of the obligatory Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha prayers, the last rakah of the Magrib prayers, and during the funeral prayers. In all other rakahs at all other times, whether obligatory or voluntary prayers, it is the preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to recite another passage or Surah from the Glorious Quran following the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah in every rakah.

Your Statement: I`ve read that the prophet, peace be upon him, performed fajr salaat with only that surah. True?

To the best of our knowledge, there is absolutely no evidence in the authentic Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (saws) ever prayed the obligatory Fajr prayers without reciting another passage or Surah of the Glorious Quran after the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah in each of the two rakahs.

Your Question: Are there other times this is permissible?
In light of the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, although a prayer without the recitation of other passages or Surah after the recitation of the Surah Al-Fatihah would be considered legal and valid, there is absolutely no evidence from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that he ever prayed any rakah without reciting another passage/s or Surah/s after the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah except in the last two rakahs of the obligatory Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha prayers, the last rakah of the obligatory Maghrib prayer, and the funeral prayers. In all other rakahs of every prayer, whether obligatory or voluntary, it is the preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) to recite another passage or Surah after the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan