Is the recitation of Al-Fatihah obligatory for the worshipper (ma'mum) in congregational audible prayers, and what is the ruling on abrogating the obligation of reciting it?
Sheikh Al-Albani held the view that reciting behind the Imam is abrogated, citing the of Abu Hurairah: "Did anyone among you recite with me just now?... So the people refrained from reciting." However, scholars have clarified that the phrase "So the people refrained from reciting" is from the words of Al-Zuhri and not Abu Hurairah, which weakens its use as evidence for abrogation, especially since Abu Hurairah himself used to command the recitation of Al-Fatihah behind the Imam. Moreover, Al-Nasa'i deemed the Hadith weak due to the unknown identity of its narrator. Even if the Hadith were authentically attributed to Abu Hurairah, it is possible that what was intended was a prohibition of vocal recitation or the recitation of more than Al-Fatihah, rather than preventing the recitation of Al-Fatihah itself. Therefore, the claim of abrogation is incorrect as long as reconciliation between the evidences is possible. This issue is a matter of and should not be a cause for dispute and division.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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