What is the ruling on a Shafi'i congregant praying behind a Maliki imam who does not recite the Basmala aloud in a prayer of audibility, and is it permissible for the Maliki imam to recite it aloud to accommodate the congregants?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is permissible for a Shafi'i congregant to follow a Maliki imam, even if the congregant believes that the imam has omitted an obligation, such as reciting the Basmalah. The congregant's prayer behind his imam is valid. The Maliki imam may recite the Basmalah aloud before the Fatihah in the obligatory prayer to reassure the congregants.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/79640
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 79640
- 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