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Failing to Recite a Surah After Al-Fatihah in Congregational Prayer

Question

If your being led by an imam who doesn't recite another sura after al fatiha what do you do, because you don't have time to recite another surah since you have to follow the imam and go into ruku with him?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The one praying behind the Imam should follow the Imam’s movements closely. Thus, when the Imam bows [for Ruku’], the follower should bow immediately, even if they are not able to recite a Surah after al-Fatihah.

Furthermore, reciting a Surah after al-Fatihah is a recommended Sunnah, and omitting it does not invalidate the prayer. Ibn Qudamah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him stated in Al-Mughni: “Reciting a Surah after al-Fatihah is a Sunnah in the first two units of every prayer, and we do not know of any disagreement among the scholars regarding this.

Similarly, Imam An-Nawawi  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said in Al-Majmu’: “If one limits his recitation to only al-Fatihah, his prayer is still valid.

Allah knows best.

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