What is the ruling on the prayer of one who, out of forgetfulness, bowed behind the Imam in a silent prayer before completing the recitation of Al-Fatiha?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If the congregant bows behind the Imam, having forgotten to recite Al-Fatiha in a silent prayer: if Al-Fatiha is a (recommended act), then there is nothing upon him, and he continues his prayer. However, if Al-Fatiha is (obligatory), then the congregant follows the Imam, and then, after the Imam's salutation, he performs an additional rak'ah (unit of prayer) to compensate for the one in which he forgot Al-Fatiha. But if he remembers to recite it while standing in the second rak'ah, that rak'ah will be counted for him.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/108701
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 108701
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy