Back to search

Is it permissible to recite silently while the Imam is leading the congregational prayer?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is legislated for the congregant to recite during prayers in which the Imam recites silently. In such prayers, the congregant should recite Al-Fatihah and a surah. As for audible prayers, the congregant should only recite Al-Fatihah silently and then listen attentively, based on the hadith of 'Ubādah ibn Al-Sāmit: "Do not do so except with the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah), for there is no prayer for one who does not recite it." And the hadith of Jābir: "We used to recite behind the Imam in the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, in the first two rak'ahs, Al-Fatihah and a surah, and in the latter two, Al-Fatihah."

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy