4/11. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 396b — Umm al-Qur’an Is Sufficient
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
Is Al-Fatiha Enough in Salah? Umm al-Qur’an and Prayer Recitation
Sahih Muslim : 396b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 396b
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِعَمْرٍو - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فِي كُلِّ الصَّلاَةِ يَقْرَأُ فَمَا أَسْمَعَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَسْمَعْنَاكُمْ وَمَا أَخْفَى مِنَّا أَخْفَيْنَا مِنْكُمْ . فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ إِنْ لَمْ أَزِدْ عَلَى أُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ فَقَالَ إِنْ زِدْتَ عَلَيْهَا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ وَإِنِ انْتَهَيْتَ إِلَيْهَا أَجْزَأَتْ عَنْكَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
One should recite (al-Fatiha) in every (rak'ah of) prayer. What we heard (i. e. recitation) from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we made you listen to that. And that which he (recited) inwardly, we (recited) inwardly for you. A person said to him: If I add nothing to the (recitation) of the Umm al Qur'an (Surat al-Fatiha), would it make the prayer incomplete? He (AbuHuraira) said: If you add to that (if you recite some of verses of the Qur'an along with Surat at-Fatiha) that is better for you. But if you are contented with it (Surat al-Fatiha) only, it is sufficient for you.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 396bIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 45USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 779
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 396b
This Hadith gives a practical answer about reciting in every prayer. Abu Huraira said that one should recite in every prayer. He explained that what they heard from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, they made others hear; and what he recited inwardly, they recited inwardly for others. A person then asked whether stopping at Umm al-Qur’an alone would make the prayer incomplete. Abu Huraira replied that adding more recitation is better, but being content with Umm al-Qur’an is sufficient. For someone searching “is Al-Fatiha enough in salah,” this narration gives a direct answer from the text. It also keeps balance: Umm al-Qur’an is sufficient, while adding more Qur’an is described as better.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Huraira said recitation belongs in every prayer.
- What was aloud was taught aloud, and what was inward was taught inwardly.
- Umm al-Qur’an alone is described as sufficient in this report.
- Adding more Qur’an after it is described as better.
