Reciting al-Fatiha Behind the Imam

Question

Should one not recite Surah al-Fatiha behind the imam? For in “Sunan Abi Dawud” (vol. 1, p. 126) [it is related that] Hazrat ‘Ubada ibn al-Samit ﵁ narrates: once we were praying the dawn prayer (fajr) behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and reciting the Qur’an became difficult for him. When he finished the prayer, he said: “Perhaps you recite behind your imam?” We said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He then said: “Do not recite anything except Surah al-Fatiha, for whoever does not recite it has no prayer.

Answer

If the narration of Abu Dawud quoted in the question is mutawatir, as has been reported from Imam al-Bukhari ﵀, then it is most surprising that Hazrat Imam al-Bukhari ﵀ did not choose to include it in his “Sahih”. The Prophet’s ﷺ very asking after finishing [the prayer] is itself an indication (qarina) that this was not the regular practice of the noble Companions ﵃.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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