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:

Assalamualakium Dear Brother!

My question is can we do a faateha ?

Should we keep fruit or food in front of us while performing faateha ?

I want some reference from Quran and Hadith and whether our prophet Mohammed(saw) used to do faateha or not ?

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Answer:

Did prophet(saws) do fatiha

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The literal meaning of the Arabic term ‘al-fatihah’ is the opening, and is the name assigned to the first Surah of the Glorious Quran.

There is absolutely no evidence in the Quran or the authentic and established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) regarding the prevalent practice of ‘giving fatihah’ or doing any rite or ritual in the name of ‘fatihah’!!! If any rite or ritual is not endorsed by the Quran or Sunnah, it obviously cannot be deemed a part or rite of Islam; thus the rite of giving ‘fatihah’ would constitute a clear and manifest act of ‘bida’ or innovation in the pure and perfect deen of Islam.

A bida or innovation is something which is invented, innovated, and added to the deen of Islam after the deen was completed on Prophet Mohamed (saws). It especially concerns the rites and rituals of worship, or any deed which was not performed or endorsed by the Messenger of Allah (saws), but was added as a part of the deen after his (saws’s) death. It also concerns any innovated deed which one does and believes that by doing this innovated deed, he is eligible to earn more reward from Allah Subhanah.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations (bida), and every innovation (bida) is an error.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (bida in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation (bida) or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (bida), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people!”

There is absolutely nothing in the authentic and established Sunnah which endorses the ritual of ‘fatihah’, nor is there any evidence that the Messenger of Allah (saws) himself did or ever endorsed such a ritual, nor is there any evidence that the noble companions of the Prophet (saws) every performed such a rite or ritual as ‘fatihah’; and it would only be best and closest to piety, righteousness and guidance if the believers who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day would abstain from entertaining this innovation of the supposed rite of ‘fatihah’, and any other innovations in the pure and perfect deen of Islam!

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan