Under the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper), question-and-answer sessions are being held across Canada with Respected Amir Sahib. As not all questions can be addressed during these gatherings, selected questions and their answers, prepared by the National Tarbiyat Department, are published in the Gazette for readers’ benefit.
QUESTION: “When an imam is leading namaz, do we also recite the parts the imam reads out loud? For example, if an imam is reading Surah Fatiha, do we also recite as we do in individual prayers, or do we just listen?”
ANSWER:
Islam teaches that congregational prayer (Salat or namaz) is founded upon discipline, harmony, and unity. When an imam leads the prayer, the followers are instructed to follow him. At the same time, certain essential components of prayer apply to every individual, whether praying alone or behind an imam.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) emphasized the absolute importance of Surah al-Fatihah in prayer. He said:
لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ
“There is no prayer for him who does not recite the Opening Chapter of the Book.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 756; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 394]
This Hadith establishes that the recitation of Surah al-Fatihah is an essential pillar of Salat and applies to every worshipper, including one who is praying behind an imam.
At the same time, the Holy Qur’an gives clear instruction regarding listening attentively when the Qur’an is being recited. Allah the Almighty states:
وَ اِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْاٰنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوْا لَهٗ وَ اَنْصِتُوْا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُوْنَ۰۰
And when the Qur’an is recited, listen to it and be silent, that you may be shown mercy. [7:205]
This verse applies directly to congregational prayer in which the imam recites aloud, instructing the congregation to listen with reverence and silence rather than speaking over the recitation.
While the imam is reciting aloud, the followers listen attentively, acting upon the Qur’anic command. At the same time, since there is no prayer without Surah al-Fatihah, the imam’s recitation does not remove the individual obligation to recite Surah al-Fatihah. Thus, the follower recites Surah al-Fatihah quietly during the pauses of the imam, such as when the imam completes a verse or pauses briefly between recitations. This method fulfills both obligations: listening attentively to the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and ensuring the recitation of Surah al-Fatihah.