Bismillahirrahmanirrahim in Prayer (Salat): Scholars' Views

Table of Contents

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim in Prayer (Salat) ~ Hi, dear readers! In previous articles, I've discussed various aspects of prayer, including obligatory prayers like Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Friday prayers, as well as sunnah prayers such as Qabliyah and Ba'diyah. Today, I will address an important topic about prayer, one that involves a difference of opinion among Islamic legal scholars. This discussion revolves around the question:

"Is reciting 'Bismillahirrahmanirrahim' (بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ) an obligation in prayer when reciting Surah Al-Fatihah?"

Before diving into this, it's essential to first understand the status of Surah Al-Fatihah in prayer. Let's explore this step by step. Stay tuned!

Is Reciting Surah Al-Fatihah in Prayer Obligatory?

One key question about prayer (salat) is:

"Is reciting Surah Al-Fatihah mandatory for the validity of prayer?"

Islamic jurists have differing opinions on this matter:

The Majority View (Malik, Shafi'i, and Ahmad)

The majority of scholars hold that reciting Surah Al-Fatihah is obligatory for the validity of prayer. Without it, the prayer is considered invalid.

Their argument is based on the following hadiths:

قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, "There is no valid prayer (salat) for those who do not read the beginning of al-Kitab (surah al-Fatihah)."

قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : مَنْ صَلَّى صَلَاةً لَمْ يَقْرَأْ فِيْهَا بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ , فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ , فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ غَيْرُ تَمَامٍ

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, "Whoever prays but does not read the Ummul Kitab (surah al-Fatihah) in it, the prayer is lacking, then the prayer is lacking, then the prayer is less, imperfect."

The View of Ats-Tsauri and Abu Hanifah:

According to these scholars, reciting Surah Al-Fatihah is not obligatory. Instead, it suffices to recite any part of the Quran, such as three short verses or one long verse.

Their argument is based on the following Quranic verse:

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى : … فَاقْرَؤُوْا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ

Allah Taala says, "…because of that, then read the Quran that is easy (for you)…" (Muzammil; 20).

Additionally, the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said:

قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِذَا أَقَمْتَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةَ فَأَسْبِغْ الْوُضُوْءَ , ثُمَّ اِسْتَقْبِلْ الْقِبْلَةَ فَكَبِّرْ , ثُمَّ اقْرَأْ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, "When you stand for prayer, complete your wudu, face the Qiblah, perform Takbir, and recite whatever is easy for you from the Quran."

Disagreements About Bismillahirrahmanirrahim in Prayer (Salat)

Now, let's address the main question:

"Is Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ) a part of Surah Al-Fatihah, and must it be recited in prayer?"

Islamic jurists have three opinions on this matter:

Shafi'i School of Thought

According to the Shafi'i school, Bismillahirrahmanirrahim is part of Surah Al-Fatihah. Therefore, it must be recited in prayer.

Evidence:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ : إِذَا قَرَأْتُمْ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ , فَاقْرَؤُوْا بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ , إِنَّهَا أُمُّ الْقُرْآنِ , وَأُمُّ الْكِتَابِ , وَالسَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِيُّ , وَبِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ أَحَدُ آيَاتِهَا

From Abu Hurairah radliyallahu anhu, from Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, that he said, "If you read الْحْمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ (surah al-Fatihah), then read Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ). In fact, it (surah al-Fatihah) is the Ummul Quran, the Ummul Kitab, and as-Sab'u al-Matsaniy. And بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ is one of the verses."

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَفْتَتِحُ الصَّلَاةَ بِبِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ

From Ibn Abbas radliyallahu anhuma, that the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam started prayer by reading Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ).

Maliki School of Thought

The Maliki school holds that Bismillahirrahmanirrahim is not part of Surah Al-Fatihah and should not be recited in prayer.

Evidence:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ : كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَفْتَتِحُ الصَّلَاةَ بِالتَّكْبِيْرِ , وَالْقِرَاءَةَ بِالْحَمْدِ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

From Aisha radliyallahu anha, she said, "The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam began praying with Takbir and began reciting (in prayer) with الْحَمْدِ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ."

Hanafi School of Thought

The Hanafi school considers Bismillahirrahmanirrahim as a verse revealed to separate the surahs of the Quran but not part of Surah Al-Fatihah. Hence, it need not be recited in prayer.

Evidence:

رُوِيَ عَنْ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا : أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ لَا يَعْرِفُ فَصْلَ السُّوْرَةِ حَتَّى يَنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ

It's narrated from Ibn Abbas radliyallahu anhuma, that the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam did not know the separator of the surah until Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ) came to him.

Conclusion

Dear readers, that was a brief explanation of the role of Bismillahirrahmanirrahim in prayer (salat). Scholars differ on this matter, but understanding these perspectives helps us appreciate the diversity in Islamic jurisprudence.

If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!

May this article be beneficial. See you in the next discussion!