5/11. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 838 — Ummul Quran in Salah
Reciting behind the Imam
Ummul Quran in Salah and Quiet Recitation
Sunan Ibn Majah : 838
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 838
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ، أَنَّ أَبَا السَّائِبِ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " مَنْ صَلَّى صَلاَةً لَمْ يَقْرَأْ فِيهَا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ غَيْرُ تَمَامٍ " . فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ فَإِنِّي أَكُونُ أَحْيَانًا وَرَاءَ الإِمَامِ . فَغَمَزَ ذِرَاعِي وَقَالَ يَا فَارِسِيُّ اقْرَأْ بِهَا فِي نَفْسِكَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever performs a prayer in which he does not recite Ummul Qur’an (the Mother of the Qur’an, i.e., Al- Fatihah), it is deficient; not complete.’” I said: ‘O Abu Hurairah, sometimes I am behind the Imam. He pressed my forearm and said: ‘O Persian! Recite it to yourself.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 838In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 36English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 838
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 838
This Hadith about Ummul Quran in salah reports that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said whoever performs a prayer without reciting Ummul Qur’an, meaning Al-Fatihah, that prayer is deficient and not complete. Abu Sa’ib then asked Abu Hurairah about being behind the imam. Abu Hurairah pressed his forearm and told him to recite it to himself. The narration includes both the Prophet’s statement and Abu Hurairah’s answer to a follow-up question. For readers searching for reciting Al-Fatihah behind the imam, this Hadith should be presented carefully: the text says to recite it to yourself in that situation, without adding arguments beyond the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- A prayer without Ummul Qur’an is described as deficient and not complete.
- Ummul Qur’an here refers to Al-Fatihah.
- Abu Hurairah told the questioner to recite it to himself behind the imam.
- The Hadith shows the importance given to Al-Fatihah in prayer.
