4/11. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 396c — Recitation in Every 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
Recitation in Every Prayer: Umm al-Kitab Is Enough, More Is Better
Sahih Muslim : 396c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 396c
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا يَزِيدُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زُرَيْعٍ - عَنْ حَبِيبٍ الْمُعَلِّمِ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فِي كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ قِرَاءَةٌ فَمَا أَسْمَعَنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَسْمَعْنَاكُمْ وَمَا أَخْفَى مِنَّا أَخْفَيْنَاهُ مِنْكُمْ وَمَنْ قَرَأَ بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ فَقَدْ أَجْزَأَتْ عَنْهُ وَمَنْ زَادَ فَهُوَ أَفْضَلُ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Recitation (of Surat al-Fatiha) in every (rak'ah) of prayer in essential. (The recitation) that we listened to from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we made you listen to it. And that which he recited inwardly to us, we recited it inwardly for you. And he who recites Umm al-Qur'an, it is enough for him (to complete the prayer), and he who adds to it (recites some other verses of the Holy Qur'an along with Surat al-Fatiha), it is preferable for him.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 396cIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 46USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 780
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 396c
This Hadith repeats the same practical teaching with clear words. Abu Huraira said that there is recitation in every prayer. What the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم made them hear, they made others hear; and what he recited inwardly to them, they recited inwardly for others. He then said that whoever recites Umm al-Kitab has enough to complete the prayer, and whoever adds to it, that is preferable. The core topic is recitation in every prayer, with special focus on Umm al-Kitab. For people searching “Al-Fatiha in every rakah” or “recitation in salah,” this report is useful because it shows both sufficiency and preference. It does not force details beyond the text; it simply says Umm al-Kitab is enough, and extra recitation is better.
What we learn from this hadith
- Every prayer is described here as having recitation.
- Umm al-Kitab is enough to complete the prayer in this report.
- Adding more recitation is described as preferable.
- Abu Huraira taught both loud and inward recitation by example.
