Fiqh of Salah (Prayer-Related Issues)
Q: Is reciting Al-Fatiha in Salah a pillar (rukn) of the prayer in all schools of thought?
A: According to the Shafi‘i school of thought, reciting Al-Fatiha is a pillar (rukn) of Salah, and thus obligatory in every rak‘ah. If a person misses the recitation—even unintentionally—the rak‘ah is invalid and must be repeated. This includes joining the prayer late and missing Al-Fatiha entirely, even if one catches the ruku‘.
However, the majority of scholars from the other three schools (Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali) hold a more flexible view. For example, they accept that if a person joins the prayer during ruku‘ and misses Al-Fatiha, the rak‘ah is still valid based on various evidences and legal reasoning (qiyās).
Q: Is “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim” considered part of Al-Fatiha?
A: There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding whether Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim is part of Al-Fatiha.
The Shafi‘i school considers it a full verse of Al-Fatiha. Therefore, they begin the surah with it audibly and treat it as essential in Salah.
The Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali schools generally do not consider it part of Al-Fatiha, though they may differ on whether it should be recited silently or not recited at all.
This disagreement further reflects the diversity of valid opinion in fiqh regarding Salah.
Q: Should we repeat the rak‘ah if we missed part of Al-Fatiha or joined late?
A: According to the Shafi‘i school, yes—missing even part of Al-Fatiha invalidates the rak‘ah because it is considered a rukn. But according to the majority opinion, the rak‘ah may still be valid if the person caught the imam in ruku‘.
Q: Should I avoid praying behind an imam who follows a different opinion or school of thought, such as not reciting Bismillah aloud or doing Qunoot in Fajr?
A: No, you should not refuse to pray behind an imam due to minor differences in fiqh, such as the recitation of Bismillah or the performance of Qunoot in Fajr prayer. These are valid differences within the four madhāhib.
The scholars themselves respected differing opinions, and even great imams like Imam al-Shafi‘i adjusted his practice based on the region and context, adopting views from other scholars like Abu Hanifa and Imam Malik. Therefore, it is wrong to be rigid or extreme in one’s adherence to a school, especially when it leads to disunity.