Reciting Fatiha after Obligatory Salaat

Reciting Fatiha after Obligatory Salaat

 

Those who object to Fatiha ask on what basis Surah Ikhlaas is compulsorily recited along with Surah Fatiha?  They also ask on what basis this is done on particular times like after the Obligatory Salaat of Fajr and ‘Asr, after the Friday Salaat, after the marriage sermon and so on?

 

Let us look at this in light of Hadith:

 

Translation: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  There are 3 things that anyone who fulfills them may enter paradise from whichever door he (or she) chooses to, may marry a damsel of paradise wherever he chooses to, provided that person is a Muslim:  (1)  The person who forgives his (or her) murderer.  (2)  The person who fulfills a contract which had no witness and no written agreement.  (3)  The person who recites Surah Ikhlaas 10 times after every Salaat.

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  Maybe if a person does only one of these things?  The Prophet responded:  Or fulfills any one of them.  (Musnad Abu Ya’ala, Hadith No. 1755)

 

This Hadith stipulates reciting Surah Fatiha after every Obligatory Salaat.

 

Hadhrat Shaddad bin Aus (May Allah be well pleased with him) says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  When anyone of you lies down to sleep, that person should recite the Ummul Quran and another Surah along with it.  Its benefit will be that Allah Most High will appoint an angel who will awaken along with this person.  (Ibn Asaker)

 

Here, the command is to join any Surah along with Surah Fatiha – any Surah.  If someone recites Surah Ikhlaas on account of its excellence and personal convenience and so forth, then this will not be against the Hadith.

 

All the aforementioned Hadith make it clear that reciting Surah Ikhlaas along Surah Fatiha is based on the words of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Reciting this after Obligatory Salaat, especially after Fajr and ‘Asr, after Friday Salaat, after the sermon of Nikah, etc. is in accordance with the Sunnah.  This is not a (reprehensible) innovation.

 

[Excerpted from Masala-e-Fatiha by Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Raheemuddin (May Allah shower His Mercy on him)]