4/11. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 394c — Umm al-Qur’an and Prayer
It Is Obligatory To Recite Al-Fatihah In Every Rak'ah; If A Person Cannot Recite Al-Fatihah Or Cannot Learn It, Then He Should Recite Whatever Else He Can Manage
Umm al-Qur’an in Prayer: A Clear Hadith on Al-Fatiha
Sahih Muslim : 394c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 394c
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ مَحْمُودَ بْنَ الرَّبِيعِ الَّذِي، مَجَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي وَجْهِهِ مِنْ بِئْرِهِمْ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عُبَادَةَ بْنَ الصَّامِتِ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ " .
'Ubadah bin As-Samit Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He who does not recite Umm al-Qur'an is not credited with having observed prayer.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 394cIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 39USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 773
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 394c
This Hadith repeats the same central teaching through Mahmud ibn al-Rabi‘ from Ubada ibn as-Samit. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever does not recite Umm al-Qur’an is not credited with having observed prayer. The report also identifies Mahmud with a remembered detail: the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had squirted water on his face from their well. But the main lesson remains Surah Fatiha in prayer. The narration does not give a long method of salah. It gives one clear point about recitation. When people search for “Fatihat al-Kitab hadith” or “Umm al-Quran in salah,” this text answers in plain terms. It teaches that prayer should include the opening chapter, and that leaving it out is described as not having observed the prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration repeats the need to recite Umm al-Qur’an in prayer.
- Mahmud ibn al-Rabi‘ is identified with a personal remembered detail.
- The teaching stays focused on recitation, not on extra prayer details.
- The Hadith warns against treating prayer as complete without Al-Fatiha.
