Recitations in Salah (prayer)

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا قُمْتُ لِلصَّلَاةِ أَقْرَأُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ‌ فِي فَاتِحَةِ الْقُرْآنِ- قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَإِذَا قَرَأْتُ فَاتِحَةَ الْقُرْآنِ أَقْرَأُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ‌ مَعَ السُّورَةِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’When I stand up for Salah (prayer) can I read, “In the name of Allah, most Beneficent, most Merciful” in the beginning of the recitation?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can do so.’ I then asked, ‘When I complete reading al-Fatihah can I read “In the name of Allah, most Beneficent,

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌[1] جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا تَقُولُ فِي رَجُلٍ ابْتَدَأَ بِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ- فِي صَلَاتِهِ وَحْدَهُ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ فَلَمَّا صَارَ إِلَى غَيْرِ أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ مِنَ السُّورَةِ تَرَكَهَا فَقَالَ الْعَبَّاسِيُّ لَيْسَ بِذَلِكَ بَأْسٌ فَكَتَبَ بِخَطِّهِ يُعِيدُهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ عَلَى رَغْمِ أَنْفِهِ يَعْنِي الْعَبَّاسِيَ‌[2].

“I once wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and asked. ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what do you say about a man who says “In the name of Allah, most Beneficent, most Merciful” in the beginning of ‘Umm al-Kitab, when performing Salah (prayer) alone. After completing ‘Umm al-Kitab he does not say i

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ أَوَّلُ كُلِّ كِتَابٍ نَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ- فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ- فَلَا تُبَالِي أَلَّا تَسْتَعِيذَ وَ إِذَا قَرَأْتَ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ- سَتَرَتْكَ فِيمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ.

“I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘Every book that has come from the heavens begins with “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.’” When you read, ‘In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful’ it is then not an offense not to read: ‘I seek refuge with Allah against Satan, the condemned one.’ When you

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْقِرَاءَةُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فِيهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ مُوَقَّتٌ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا الْجُمُعَةَ تَقْرَأُ فِيهَا الْجُمُعَةَ وَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Is there any temporary recitation in Salah (prayer)? He (the Imam) replied, ‘No, except Friday in which you recite al-Jumu‘ah, and al-Munafiqun, (Chapters 62 and 63).’”

إِذَا كُنْتَ خَلْفَ إِمَامٍ فَقَرَأَ الْحَمْدَ وَ فَرَغَ مِنْ قِرَاءَتِهَا فَقُلْ أَنْتَ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* وَ لَا تَقُلْ آمِينَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you are behind an Imam when he completes reading al-Hamd you say, ‘all praise belongs to Allah, Cherisher of the worlds,’ and do not say ‘Amen.’” (Ahadith 4-5 are best explained in the form of fatwa.)

لَا يُكْتَبُ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ وَ الدُّعَاءِ إِلَّا مَا أَسْمَعَ نَفْسَهُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Of recitations and prayers, only such recitations and prayers are counted which one has made his own self to hear.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ يُجْزِئُ عَنِّي أَنْ أَقْرَأَ فِي الْفَرِيضَةِ- فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ وَحْدَهَا إِذَا كُنْتُ مُسْتَعْجِلًا أَوْ أَعْجَلَنِي شَيْ‌ءٌ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Is it sufficient for me to read just al-Fatihah in an obligatory Salah (prayer) if I am in a hurry or something causes me to move quickly?’ He (the Imam) replied, ’It is not harmful.’”

صَلَّى بِنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْمَغْرِبَ فَقَرَأَ بِالْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), once led us in al-Maghrib Salah (prayer) and recited al- Ma’udhatayn in two Rak’at.”

يَجُوزُ لِلْمَرِيضِ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ فِي الْفَرِيضَةِ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ وَحْدَهَا وَ يَجُوزُ لِلصَّحِيحِ فِي قَضَاءِ صَلَاةِ التَّطَوُّعِ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ.

‘It is permissible for one suffering from illness to recite just al-Fatihah in an obligatory Salah (prayer) as well as for one in good health in Qada’ (compensatory prayer) of optional Salah (prayer) missed during the day or night.’”

إِنَّمَا يُكْرَهُ أَنْ يُجْمَعَ بَيْنَ السُّورَتَيْنِ فِي الْفَرِيضَةِ فَأَمَّا النَّافِلَةُ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is undesirable to recite two Surah (chapters) together in an obligatory Salah (prayer) but in an optional one it is not harmful.’” (Ahadith 7-11 are best explained in the form of fatwa.)

يُكْرَهُ أَنْ يُقْرَأَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ فِي نَفَسٍ وَاحِدٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is not desirable to recite all of Chapter 112 in one breath.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تَقْرَأْ فِي الْمَكْتُوبَةِ بِأَقَلَّ مِنْ سُورَةٍ وَ لَا بِأَكْثَرَ.

‘You must not read less than a Surah (Chapter) in an obligatory Salah (prayer) or more.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ صَلَاةُ الْأَوَّابِينَ الْخَمْسُونَ كُلُّهَا بِ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Salah (prayer) of repenting people with all fifty of them there is Chapter 112.’”

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا حَاضِرٌ كَمْ يُقْرَأُ فِي الزَّوَالِ فَقَالَ ثَمَانِينَ آيَةً فَخَرَجَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا هَارُونَ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ شَيْخاً أَعْجَبَ مِنْ هَذَا الَّذِي سَأَلَنِي عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ وَ لَمْ يَسْأَلْنِي عَنْ تَفْسِيرِهِ هَذَا الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ أَنَّهُ عَاقِلُهُمْ يَا أَبَا هَارُونَ إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ سَبْعُ آيَاتٍ وَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ثَل

“A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when I was present, ‘How much one recites when it is Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘One recites eighty verses.’ The man then left. He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu Harun, have you ever seen an old man more strange than this man who aske

سَأَلْتُهُ هَلْ يَقْرَأُ الرَّجُلُ فِي صَلَاتِهِ وَ ثَوْبُهُ عَلَى فِيهِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ إِذَا أَسْمَعَ أُذُنَيْهِ الْهَمْهَمَةَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ’Can one recite in Salah (prayer) with his clothes on his mouth? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful if his ears can hear his humming.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يُجْزِئُكَ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ مَعَهُمْ مِثْلُ حَدِيثِ النَّفْسِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When performing Salah (prayer) with them (other people) it is sufficient to recite like speaking to one’s soul.’”

تَلْبِيَةُ الْأَخْرَسِ وَ تَشَهُّدُهُ وَ قِرَاءَتُهُ لِلْقُرْآنِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ تَحْرِيكُ لِسَانِهِ وَ إِشَارَتُهُ بِإِصْبَعِهِ.

‘The recitation of a speechless person in Talbiyah, Tashahhud and readings from al-Quran in Salah (prayer) is by moving his tongue and pointing with his finger.’”

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَنْسَى حَرْفاً مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَيَذْكُرُ وَ هُوَ رَاكِعٌ هَلْ يَجُوزُ لَهُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ فِي الرُّكُوعِ قَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ إِذَا سَجَدَ فَلْيَقْرَأْ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who forgets a letter of the recitation and remembers it in Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees); is it permissible for him to recite in Ruku‘? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible but he recites in Sujud (prostration).”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّكَ كَتَبْتَ إِلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفَرَجِ تُعَلِّمُهُ أَنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَا تَقْرَأُ فِي الْفَرَائِضِ بِ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ‌ وَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَ إِنَّ صَدْرِي لَيَضِيقُ بِقِرَاءَتِهِمَا فِي الْفَجْرِ فَقَالَ ع لَا يَضِيقَنَّ صَدْرُكَ بِهِمَا فَإِنَّ الْفَضْلَ وَ اللَّهِ فِيهِمَا.

“I said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, you have written to Muhammad ibn al-Faraj telling him that the most excellent recitation in obligatory Salah (prayer) are chapters 97 and 112 of the Holy Quran. I feel uneasy reciting them in morning Salah (prayer).’ The Imam said, ‘You

صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيَّاماً فَكَانَ إِذَا كَانَتْ صَلَاةٌ لَا يُجْهَرُ فِيهَا جَهَرَ بِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ‌ وَ كَانَ يَجْهَرُ فِي السُّورَتَيْنِ جَمِيعاً.

“I performed Salah (prayer) for many days in congregation led by abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and in Salah (prayer) which is not recited loudly, he would read Bismillah, (in the name of Allah, most Beneficent, most Merciful) aloud in both Surah (chapters).”

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[3] عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ لا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ وَ لا تُخافِتْ بِها[1] قَالَ الْمُخَافَتَةُ مَا دُونَ سَمْعِكَ وَ الْجَهْرُ أَنْ تَرْفَعَ صَوْتَكَ شَدِيداً.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘Do not be loud in your Salah (prayer) nor very quiet.’ (17:110) He (the Imam) said, ‘Quiet is when you do not hear it, and loud is when you raise your voice very loud.’”

لَا تَدَعْ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ بِ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَ قُلْ يا أَيُّهَا الْكافِرُونَ‌ فِي سَبْعِ مَوَاطِنَ‌[2] فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ وَ رَكْعَتَيِ الزَّوَالِ وَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ أَوَّلِ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ وَ رَكْعَتَيِ الْإِحْرَامِ وَ الْفَجْرِ إِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ بِهَا وَ رَكْعَتَيِ الطَّوَافِ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى‌ أَنَّهُ يُبْدَأُ فِي هَذَا كُلِّهِ بِ قُلْ هُوَ

‘You must not miss reading Surah (chapter) 112 and 109 in seven instances. Read them in the two Rak‘at before dawn, in the two Rak‘at at noontime, in the two Rak‘at after al-Maghrib, in the first two Rak‘at of the night Salah (prayer), the two Rak‘at for Ihram. Read them in the two Rak‘at of the morning if you begin th

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَؤُمُّ الْقَوْمَ فَيَغْلَطُ قَالَ يَفْتَحُ عَلَيْهِ مَنْ خَلْفَهُ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about a man who leads people in Salah (prayer) and makes a mistake. He (the Imam) said, ‘Those behind him open it up for him (help to correct him).”’

فِي الرَّجُلِ يُصَلِّي فِي مَوْضِعٍ ثُمَّ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَقَدَّمَ قَالَ يَكُفُّ عَنِ الْقِرَاءَةِ فِي مَشْيِهِ حَتَّى يَتَقَدَّمَ إِلَى الْمَوْضِعِ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ.[4]

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a man may stand up in a certain place to perform Salah (prayer). He then wants to move forward. He in such case stops reading when he is walking forward, until he reaches the place that he wants, then reads.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَقُومُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَيُرِيدُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ سُورَةً فَيَقْرَأُ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَ قُلْ يا أَيُّهَا الْكافِرُونَ‌ فَقَالَ يَرْجِعُ مِنْ كُلِّ سُورَةٍ إِلَّا مِنْ‌ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَ مِنْ‌ قُلْ يا أَيُّهَا الْكافِرُونَ‌.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that a man stands up for Salah (prayer), wants to read a Surah (chapter) and he reads Surah (chapter) 112 and Surah (chapter) 109. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can discontinue reading any Surah (chapter) except Surah (chapter) 112 and Surah (chapter) 109.’”

أَمَّنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ فَقَرَأَ الْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ هُمَا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ‌[1].

26. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from Dawud ibn Farqad from Sabir Mawla’ Bassam who has said the following: “Once, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), led us in al-Maghrib Salah (prayer). He read al-M‘udhatayn (chapters 113, 114) and said that they are of al-Qur

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلَى الْإِمَامِ أَنْ يُسْمِعَ مَنْ خَلْفَهُ وَ إِنْ كَثُرُوا فَقَالَ لِيَقْرَأْ قِرَاءَةً وَسَطاً يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى‌ وَ لا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ وَ لا تُخافِتْ بِها.

‘He reads moderately; Allah, most Blessed, most High, has said, “Do not be very loud in your Salah (prayer) nor very quiet.’”” (17:110)

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[2] عَنِ الَّذِي لَا يَقْرَأُ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ فِي صَلَاتِهِ قَالَ لَا صَلَاةَ لَهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَبْدَأَ بِهَا فِي جَهْرٍ أَوْ إِخْفَاتٍ قُلْتُ أَيُّهُمَا أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ إِذَا كَانَ خَائِفاً أَوْ مُسْتَعْجِلًا يَقْرَأُ بِسُورَةٍ أَوْ فَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ قَالَ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ.[3]

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about one who does not read al-Fatihah in his Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘His Salah (prayer) is not valid. He must begin with it (al-Fatihah) that which is read aloud or quietly.’ I then asked, ‘Which one is more beloved to you: if one is afraid or in a hurry, is it reading