QUESTION:

What do the scholars of the Din and muftis of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: What is ruling pertaining to recitation (of the Qur’an) when praying behind an imam? What should be recited and what shouldn’t be recited?

Questioner: A brother from India.

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

It is makruh tahrimi (prohibitively disliked) and impermissible for a muqtadi (follower) to recite the Qur’an, be it Surah al-Fatihah, behind an imam in every prayer. A muqtadi must remain silent and listen (to the recitation). It is mentioned in the Noble Qur’an,

وَاِذَا قُرِیَٔ الْقُرْاٰنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوۡا لَہٗ وَاَنۡصِتُوۡا لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُوۡنَ

“So pay attention and listen quietly when the Quran is recited, so that you may be given mercy.” [al-A’raf, 204]

It is narrated in Sahih Muslim from Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated:

اذ صلّیتم فاقیمواصفوفکم ثم لیؤمکم احدکم فاذاکبر فکبر وا واذ اقرأ فانصتوا

“When you pray make your rows straight and let anyone amongst you act as your Imam. Recite the takbir when he recites it and when he recites (the Qur’an), you should remain silent.” [Sahih Muslim, Bab al-Tashahhud fi al-Salah]

It is mentioned in al-Fatawa al-Ridawiyyah, “The Hanafi school holds the recitation (of the Qur’an) by the muqtadi to be impermissible and prohibitively disliked. [Fatawa Ridawiyyah, vol. 6, pg. 237]

It is permissible apart from the Qur’an to recite the Thana, tasbihat (glorifications) recited in ruku’ (bowing) and sujud (prostration), takbirs of changing positions, rabbana laka al-hamd, tashahhud, salawat (prayers) upon the Prophet ﷺ,  du’a after the salawat, etc

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by the SeekersPath team

Read the original answer in Urdu here – [Q-ID0391] What should I recite behind the Imam in prayer?

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