Is it permissible for my mother—who does not memorize the verses of the Qur’an nor is she able to do so—to pray with only the movements without reciting Al-Fatihah or the short surahs?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If a mother is unable to learn Al-Fatiha, the prayer does not fall away from her. Rather, she must pray in the manner mentioned in no. 9942. Ibn Arafa said: "Whoever is ignorant of it must learn it. If time is short, he should pray behind an imam. If he cannot find one, then according to Ibn Sahnoun, Ibn Al-Qasim, and Ashhab, his obligation is to remember Allah," meaning he says the opening takbeer (takbeerat al-), remembers Allah, and then bows.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/72551
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 72551
- 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