11/20. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 902 — Starting Recitation with Al-Fatihah
Starting with Fatihatil-Kitab (The Opening of The Book) before another Surah
Hadith About Starting Recitation with Al-Fatihah
Sunan an-Nasai : 902
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 902
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ - رضى الله عنهما - يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ الْقِرَاءَةَ بِـ { الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ }
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ), Abu Bakr, and Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, would start their recitation with: "All the praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.
[1] Al-FâtihahReference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 902In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 27English translation : Vol. 2, Book 11, Hadith 903
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 902
This hadith about starting recitation with Al-Fatihah is short but clear. Anas reports that the Prophet, Abu Bakr, and Umar would begin their recitation with the words: All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists. The focus is on the opening of recitation in prayer and the place of Al-Fatihah at the start. The narration does not add extra details about voice level, legal debate, or the rest of the prayer, so the safest reading is to stay with what it says. It highlights a shared practice seen from the Prophet and two leading companions: prayer recitation began with praise of Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The prayer recitation began with praise of Allah.
- Anas linked this practice to the Prophet, Abu Bakr, and Umar.
- The hadith points to Al-Fatihah as the opening of recitation.
- The report teaches careful attention to how prayer was performed.
