does not hold that opinion; rather, he would pronounce the takbir and commence recitation. This is based on what Anas narrated, saying: "The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), Abu Bakr, and Umar used to begin prayer with 'Al-hamdu lillahi Rabb al-'alamin' (All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds)." (Agreed upon) (1). Our position is that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to open the prayer with what we will mention, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) acted accordingly. Umar used to open his prayer with it (2), reciting it aloud so the people could hear him, as did Abdullah ibn Mas'ud. The hadith of Anas refers to the recitation, as mentioned in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah: "Allah the Almighty said: 'I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves' (3)." He interpreted that as the Fatiha. This is similar to the statement of Aisha: "The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to open the prayer with the takbir and the recitation of {Al-hamdu lillahi Rabb al-'alamin} (4)." It is mandatory to interpret it in this way, because it has been established from those whom Anas narrated from (5) that they practiced the opening supplication with what we have mentioned. Once this is established, Ahmad adopted the opening supplication with what
(1) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on What One Says After the Takbir, from the Book of the Adhan. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/189. And Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Evidence of Those Who Say One Should Not Recite the Basmala Aloud, from the Book of Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/299. It was also recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on One Who Does Not Hold the View of Reciting 'In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful' Aloud, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/180. And al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding Opening the Recitation with 'Al-hamdu lillahi Rabb al-'alamin', from the Chapters on Prayer. Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/45. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on Not Reciting 'In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful' Aloud, from the Book of the Opening. Al-Mujtaba 2/104. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on Opening the Recitation, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/267. And al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on the Dislike of Reciting 'In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful' Aloud, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan al-Darimi 1/283. And Imam Malik, in: The Chapter on the Practice Regarding Recitation, from the Book of Prayer. Al-Muwatta 1/8. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 3/101, 111, 114, 168, 177, 183, 203, 205, 233, 255, 273, 286, 289. (2) In manuscript M, an addition: "in". (3) Recorded by Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Obligation of Reciting the Fatiha in Every Rak'ah... etc., from the Book of Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/296, 297. And Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on One Who Omits the Fatiha of the Book in Their Prayer, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/188. And al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on the Virtue of the Fatiha of the Book, from the Chapters on Exegesis. Aridat al-Ahwadhi 11/69, 70. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on Omitting the Recitation of 'In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful' in the Fatiha of the Book, from the Book of the Opening. Al-Mujtaba 2/105. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on the Reward of the Quran, from the Book of Manners. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1243. And Imam Malik, in: The Chapter on Recitation Behind the Imam in What One Does Not Recite Aloud, from the Book of the Call to Prayer. Al-Muwatta 1/84, 85. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/241, 285, 460. (4) Recorded by Muslim, in: The Chapter on Moderation in Prostration and Placing the Palms on the Ground, from the Book of Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/357, 358. And Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on One Who Does Not Hold the View of Reciting 'In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful' Aloud, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/180, 181. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on Opening the Recitation, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/267. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 6/31, 171, 194, 281. (5) Omitted from: M.
