(Chapter 4a contd.)

SURAH FATIHAH

Then the person praying should recite surah Fatihah.

''Alhamdu lil-lahi rabbil 'alameen.

Ar rahm'a nir-raheem.

M'aliki yawmid - deen.

Iyy'aka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een

Ihdinas sir'atal mustaqeem, sir'atal Lazeena an'amta 'alayhim.

Ghayril maghd'ubi 'alayhim walad d'al-leen. 'Ameen."

"Praise is only for Allah, Lord of the Universe.

The most kind, the most merciful.

The master of the Day of Judgment.

You alone we worship and to you alone we pray for help.

Show us the straight way, the way of those whom you have blessed.

Who have not deserved your anger Nor gone astray."

RECITATION OF SURAH FATIHAH BEHIND AN IMAM.

Some people are very confused whether they should or should not read Surah Fatihah while praying in congregation. But there should not be any confusion in this matter as the following hadith very clearly answers the question.

a) Ubadah bin Samit(ra) said: 'We were behind the Prophet(saw) in the 'Fajr' prayer, and he recited a passage from the Qur'an, but the recitation became difficult for him. Then when he finished he said, 'Do you recite behind your Imam? 'We replied, 'yes, Messenger of Allah(saw)'. Then the Messenger of Allah(saw) said: 'Do not recite anything (behind the Imam) except Fatihah-ul-Kitab (Surah Fatihah) because he who does not include it in his recitation in prayer his prayer is not valid.' " (Abu Dawud, Tirmizi).

b) Abu Hurairah(ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah(saw) said: "If anyone observes power (salat) in which he does not read Ummul Qur'an (Fatihah), it is deficient, it deficient, it is deficient, and not complete." It was said to Abu Hurairah: "'What should we do when we are behind an Imam? He, (Abu Hurairah)(ra) replied, "Read it in silence..." (Muslim).

'AAMEEN:

It is sunnah to say Aameen when a person finishes recitation of Surah Fatihah. If he is praying alone he should say "Aameen" in silence and if he is praying with congregation behind an imam then he should say Aameen fairly loudly when the Imam finishes saying the last verse of Surah Fatihah. When saying 'Aameen the voice of the whole congregation should resound at the same time.

There are many hadiths which prove that saying Aameen aloud is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet(saw) and it was the regular practice of the companions. We will mention a few of these hadiths here.

a) Naeem al Mujammar said: "I prayed behind Abu Hurairah(ra). He recited Bismillah hir-rahma nir-ra,heem, then he recited surah Fatihah, and when he reached walad dal-leen, he said, 'Aameen' after it and the people behind him said Aameen...." (Bukhari).

b) Abu Hurairah(ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah(saw) said: " When the Imam Says 'Ghayril Maghdubi alayhim walad dal-leen', all of you should say, 'Aameen', because the Angels say Aameen and the Imam says Aameen. And whosoever says Aameen and his voice blends with that of the angels he would be forgiven his sins." (Ahmed, Abu Dawud, Nisai)

c) Aisha(ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah saw) said: "Jews are more envious of Muslims in two things (a) our greeting someone with Assalamu 'alaykum and (b) saying Ameen (aloud) behind the Imam" (Ahmad, Ibn Majah).

RECITATION AFTER SURAH FATIHAH

It is sunnah for a person who is praying that he should read a surah from Qur'an after Fatihah in the first two rakats of the fard prayer. He can recite one or more surahs. Here are a few short surahs which you can recite.

a) Surah Ikhlas

"Qul huwal lahu ahad. Allah hus-samad. Lam yalid walam yulad. Walam yakul-lahu Kufuwan ahad."

"Say: He is Allah, the only one. Allah helps and does not need help. He does not produce a child, and He Was not born of anyone. There is no one equal to Him."

b) Surah Falaq.

"Qul Auzubi rab-bil fataq. Min shar-rima Khalaq.

Wa min shar-ri ghasiqin iza waqab.

Wa min shar-rin naf-fathati fil 'uqad.

Wa min shar-ri hasidin Iza Hasad

"Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn,

from the evil of all that He has treated, and from the evil of the darkness of night when it falls

and from the evil of those (charmers) who blow into knots.

And from the evil of the envier when he envies."

c) Surah Nas.

"Qul A'uzubi rab-bin nas. Malikin nas. Ila hin-nas.

Min shar-ril waswa sil khan-nas.

Allazi yuwaswisu fee sudu rin-nas.

Minal jin-nati wan-nas.

"Say: I seek refuge in the sustainer of mankind. the Owner of Mankind, Lord of Mankind.

From the evil of the sneaking whisperer.

Who whispers in the hearts of mankind.

(Whether he be) from among jinns or mankind."