Ruling on the Salah of a person who doubted
whether they recited Surah Al-Fatihah or not*
Q: Sometimes during my Salah (prayer) I become
unsure whether I have recited Surah Al-Fatihah (the Opening Chapter of the Holy
Qur'an) or not; should I offer two prostrations of forgetfulness? What should I
recite in these two prostrations of forgetfulness? If it is probable that I
have recited it, should I offer the two prostrations of forgetfulness?
A: If a person performing Salah alone or as an
Imam is unsure whether he has recited Surah Al-Fatihah or not, he has to recite
it again before bowing and offer two prostrations of forgetfulness before
concluding the Salah. If they are in doubt after finishing the Salah,
their Salah is valid and they should pay no attention to such doubt, as the
Salah is basically correct unless there is hard evidence that it is incorrect.
As for those praying behind the Imam, their Salah is correct even if they
forgot to recite Surah Al-Fatihah as the recitation of the Imam will be
sufficient for them like one who does not recite Surah Al-Fatihah out of
ignorance and the one who joins the congregational Salah while the Imam is
bowing. In case someone joins the Salah while the Imam is bowing, they should
say "Takbir" (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the
Greatest]") while they are upright and then bow. One is exempted from
reciting Surah Al-Fatihah if one has not completed it with the Imam while he
was standing for recitation, as mentioned in the Prophetic Hadith narrated by
Abu Bakrah in this regard. As for the prostration of forgetfulness, a Muslim
may recite the same supplications recited in the ordinary prostration of Salah.
One can say, "Subhana Rabi Al-A`la (Glory be to my Lord, the Most
High)" and other words of praise. May Allah grant us success.
(Part No. 11; Page No. 254)
* This was published in the book entitled, "Al Da'wah", vol. 1, pp. 79-80
~
Source: https://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/fatawaChapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=1841&PageNo=1&BookID=14
