What is the decree about saying bismillah before reading al-Fatiha in prayer? Do the people in congregation following the imam read subhanaka? Do they need to read anything else?

Dear Brother / Sister,

1. It is sunnah for the imam to say audhu… bismillah… silently. Therefore, they are not said aloud.

After the hands are put over each other, it is sunnah to read "Subhanaka" and to say audhu… bismillah… before reading al-Fatiha. It is sunnah to say bismillah… at the beginning of other rak’ahs too.    

2. Bismillah… is not said before reading an additional chapter or verse(s). However, Imam Muhammad regards it permissible to say bismillah… after reading al-Fatiha and before reading an additional chapter or verses in prayers in which qira’ah is silent. However, According to the majority of fiqh scholars, bismillah… is not said there.    

3. A person who follows the imam reads "Subhanaka" and keeps silent. He does not read anything else. He does not say bismillah… when he stands up for the other rak’ahs. However, if says bismillah…, his prayer is not invalidated. It is better not to say bismillah…. (Ömer Nasuhi BİLMEN, İslam İlmihali)

It is sunnah to read "Subhanaka" after the hands are put over each other and to say audhu… bismillah… before reading al-Fatiha; it is sunnah to say bismillah… at the beginning of other rak’ahs. This is the way that is in accordance with the Sunnah.   

According to Malikis, it is makruh to say audhu… bismillah… before the chapter of al-Fatiha and the additional chapter. The evidence for it is the hadith of Hz. Anas:  Hz. Prophet (pbuh), Abu Bakr and Umar started prayers with "Alhamdulillahi rabbil alamin".

According to Hanafis, audhu… is said only in the first rak’ah.

According to Shafiis and Hanbalis, it is sunnah to say "Audhubillahiminashshaytanirrajim" silently at the beginning of each rak’ah.

According to Hanafis and Hanbalis, bismillah… is said silently in each rak’ah. Shafiis say bismillah… aloud in prayers in which qira’ah is aloud.

According to Hanafis, it is sunnah to say audhu… bismillah… in the first rak’ah and only bismillah… in the other rak’ahs. According to Shafiis and Hanbalis, it is sunnah to say audhu… bismillah… in all rak’ahs.  Malikis do not say audhu… bismillah… in any rak’ahs. (Prof. Dr. Wahba Zuhayli, İslam Fıkhı Ansiklopedisi)

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