Should we read the chapter of al-Fatiha in the 3rd and 4th rak’ahs when we perform a fard prayer in congregation when the imam reads silently?

Dear Brother / Sister,

According to Hanafi madhhab, the congregation never reads al-Fatiha and an additional chapter or verses in congregational prayers.

According to Shafii madhhab, it is fard to read al-Fatiha in congregational prayers. According to Hanafi madhhab, it is makruh tahrimi for the congregation to read al-Fatiha in congregational prayers. There are different hadiths that make Shafiis and Hanafis deduce different decrees. This occurs due to the different methods of deduction the madhhab imams use while deducing decrees from hadiths. Both of them are true.

According to Hanafi madhhab, when the imam reads aloud, the congregation listens to the Quran and keeps silent.

That is the view of Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Abu Yusuf. According to them, it is makruh tahrimi for the congregation to read in congregational prayers in which the imam reads both aloud and silently. The imam leads the congregation. Therefore, the qiraah of the imam is regarded as the qiraah of the congregation. As a matter of fact, the following is stated in a hadith: 

"The qiraah of a person who follows the imam is the qiraah of the imam."

However, Imam Muhammad regards it permissible for the congregation to read in congregational prayers in which the imam reads silently.  

The qiraah of a person who follows the imam:

According to Hanafi, there is no qiraah for a person who follows the imam. The evidences they base their view are as follows:

a. The Quran. The following is stated in a verse:

"When the Qur´an is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace: that ye may receive Mercy." (al-A'raf, 7/204)

Ahmad b. Hanbal states that scholars unanimously agree that this verse is related to the prayer. The verse orders people “to listen” and “to keep quiet” in prayer. Listening is related to the prayers in which qiraah is performed aloud. Keeping quiet is related to all of the prayers whether the qiraah is performed aloud or silently. Accordingly, it is wajib for the followers of the imam to listen when the qiraah is performed aloud and to be quiet when the qiraah is performed silently. It is makruh tahrimi not to act in compliance with this principle.

b. The Sunnah. The following is stated in a hadith:

"If a person follows the imam, the qiraah of the imam is his qiraah." (Ibn Majah, Iqamah, 13).

The hadith above includes all prayers in which reading is aloud or silent. The following is stated in another hadith:

"The imam stands at the front so that he will be followed. When he makes takbir, you make takbir too. When he reads, keep quiet." (Bukhari, Salah, 18, Adhan, 51, 74, 82, 128, Taqsirus-Salah, 17; Muslim, Salah, 77, 82)

Once, the Prophet (pbuh) was leading the noon prayer. A man who was praying behind read the chapter beginning with, "Sabbihisma Rabbikal-a'la". The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) turned toward the congregation and asked who was reading. Somebody said he was reading. The Prophet said, "I thought some of you were arguing with me.” (Muslim, Salah, 48) This hadith shows that it is not permissible for the followers of the imam to read in the prayers in which the imam reads silently. Since this is the case in the prayers in which the imam reads silently, it must definitely be so in the prayers in which the imam reads aloud.

c. Qiyas (Analogy). If qiraah were necessary for the congregation, it would also be necessary for a person (masbuq) who caught up with the imam in ruku’. However, a person who catches up with the imam in ruku’ is regarded to have caught that rak’ah. Thus, the qiraah of the congregation is compared with the qiraah of a person (masbuq) who caught up with the imam. (al-Qasani, Badaius-Sanai, 1/110 ff; az-Zuhayli, al-Fiqhul-Islami, 1/648)

According to the majority of the scholars other than Hanafis, what is meant by qira’ah in prayer is the chapter of al-Fatiha.

"The prayer of a person who does not read al-Fatiha is not valid. "

"A prayer in which al-Fatiha is not read is not sufficient.",

"Perform the prayer as I do."

The hadiths above are the evidences for it. (see Ibn Rushd, Bidayatul-Mujtahid, Egypt, nd, I, 119 ff; Ibn Qudama, al-Mughni, 3^rd impression, Cairo, nd, I, 376-491, 562-568; ash-Shirazi, al-Muhadhdhab, Matbaatul-Babi al-Halabi, I, 72)

It is sunnah to read a chapter after al-Fatiha in the first two rak’ahs of every prayer. A person who follows the imam reads al-Fatiha and an additional chapter in a prayer in which qiraah is silent.

According to Malikis and Hanbalis, the congregation does not read anything in a prayer in which qiraah is aloud. According to Shafiis, the congregation reads only al-Fatiha in a prayer in which qiraah is aloud. According to the view of Ahmad b. Hanbal that is clear, the congregation reads the first half of al-Fatiha when the imam pauses for the first time and the second half when the imam pauses for the second time. He listens to the imam’s qiraah between them. (az-Zuhayli, ibid, 1/649)

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