Chapter: Recitation Behind the Imam

• I asked Ahmad about the man who recites behind the Imam when he (the Imam) recites aloud? He said: 'No, rather, he should listen to the Qur'an.' I said: What if the Imam does not recite aloud? He said: 'He should recite the Opening of the Book (Fatihat al-Kitab) and a surah.'

• And I heard Ishaq say—regarding recitation behind the Imam—he said: 'In the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers, one recites behind the Imam just as he would recite if he were alone. In the Maghrib, he recites in the third rak'ah. If the Imam recites aloud, then if he is able to recite during the Imam's pause, he should do so. And in the Fajr prayer, it is necessary to recite the Opening of the Book during the Imam's pause, and it is necessary to recite the "Hamd" (Fatiha) in one of the two rak'ahs.'

• And I heard Ishaq ibn Ibrahim—on another occasion—say—regarding recitation behind the Imam when he recites aloud—he said: 'Recite before the Imam begins his recitation, and when the Imam begins his recitation, then be silent. When the Imam finishes the recitation of the "Hamd" and pauses, complete what remains for you of the "Hamd".'

801 - Ishaq narrated to us: I said to Musa ibn Tariq: Did Musa ibn 'Uqbah narrate to you, from 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, that he used to hasten (to recite) before the Imam when he paused? He affirmed this and said: 'Yes.'

802 - 'Abbas ibn al-Walid narrated to us, saying: 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-Wahid narrated to us, from al-Awza'i, who said: 'It is the Sunnah, when the Imam pronounces the takbir for prayer, that he should remain silent until he and those behind him say: "Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaraka ismuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk" (Glory and praise be to You, O Allah, blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god other than You), and seek refuge from the accursed Satan. Then when he says: {nor of those who go astray}, he should pause so that those behind him may recite the Opening of the Book.'

• And I heard Ishaq—also—say: 'The Sunnah regarding recitation in the obligatory prayers for the Imam and those behind him is: That the Imam recites in the Dhuhr and 'Asr, in the first two rak'ahs, the Opening of the Book and a surah, and those behind him do the same; this is the consensus of the people of knowledge. And when he performs the Maghrib, he recites the Opening of the Book and a surah, and those behind him remain silent. And the Imam and those behind him recite in the latter two rak'ahs of the 'Isha with the Opening of the Book. And the Imam recites in the first rak'ah of the Subh (Fajr) with the Opening of the Book and a surah, after he pauses a moment after the opening supplication (istiftah) before the recitation; just as the Imams from the companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and those after them used to do, so that those behind him may recite the Opening of the Book. And those behind the Imam should remain silent when the Imam recites in the Subh in both rak'ahs, due to the statement of Allah, the Exalted: {And when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and remain silent}.'