Shaykh Shuraim Reciting Surah Fatiha in tears
Youtube Video
In a Hadith Qudsi, the Prophet has narrated what Allah says when a person recites the surat al-Fatiha.
The person says, "In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Compassionate", and Allah says, "My servant mentions Me". The servant then says, "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds," and Allah says in his turn, "My servant lends Me grace." The servant then says "The All-Merciful, The Compassionate, " and Allah replies "My servant praises Me." The servant says, "Master of the Day of Judgement," and Allah says, "My servant glorifies Me and submits himself to Me."
This first half of this surah relates exclusively to Allah and the servant's invocation of Allah's attributes. In the next half of the surah, the servant prays with a complete sense of humility.
The servant says, "You alone do we worship and unto You alone do we turn for help," and Allah says, "This is shared between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive that which he asks." When the servant says, "Guide us to the Straight Path, The path of those whom You have favoured, Not those who have incurred Your wrath, nor those who are astray," Allah says, "All that comes back to My servant, and My servant will receive that for which he asks."
Thus, the second half of this surah is related exclusively to the believer.
Recitation In One Breath
Youtube Video
Recitation of Bismillah before Surah Fatiha in Salah
By Brother Abu_Tamim of Sunniforum
From Anas bin Malik: The Prophet, Abu Bakr and 'Umar used to start the prayer with "Al-hamdu lil-lahi Rabbil-'ala-min (All praises are for Allah the Lord of the Worlds)." Bukhari.
From Ibn `Abbaas who said, "Reciting Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem aloud is the recitation of the Bedouin Arabs". ATHAR SAHEEH. Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf (1/411), Abdur-Razzaaq in al-Musannaf (2/89), Ibn al-Mundhir in al-Awsat (3/127), al- Bayhaqee in al-Ma'rifah (2/377), at-Tahaawee in Ma'aanee al-Aathaar (1/119), and Ahmad in al-Musnad (1/374 Nasbur-Raayah), by way of Sufyaan bin Abdul-Malik bin Abee Bushayr, from Ikrimah from Ibn `Abbaas.
From Ikrimah that he said, "I am a Bedouin Arab if I was to recite Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem aloud". ATHAR SAHEEH. Reported by al-Athram as occurs in Nasb ur-Raayah (1/347,348), with an established isnaad, as said by az-Zayla'ee.
From al-Aswad who said, "I prayed behind `Umar seventy prayers, and he never recited Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem aloud". ATHAR HASAN. Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf (1/3610,
and Ibn al-Mundhir in al-Awsat (3/128), by way of Ishaaq bin Sulaymaan ar-Raazee from Abu Sinaan from Hammaad from Ibraaheem from al-Aswad. And Ibn Abdul-Barr also mentioned it from this angle
in al-Insaaf (p.240).
From Abu Waa'il, who said, "That he heard `Umar bin al-Khattaab opening the prayer with "Alhamdulillaah bi Rabbil-`Aalameen", meaning, he would recite Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem silently. ATHAR HASAN. Reported by `Abdur-Razzaaq in al-Musannaf (2/93), and Ibn al-Mundhir in al-Awsat (3/128). The sanad is Hasan.
From Zarr from Abdullaah bin Mas'ood, "That he used to begin his recitation with "Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil-`Aalameen", meaning he used to recite Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem inwardly. ATHAR HASAN. Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf (1/360) by way of Yahyaa bin Sa'eed al-Qattaan from Sa'eed bin Abee `Aroobah from Aasim from Zarr.
From Hishaam from his father and from Ibn az-Zubayr, "that they both did not used to recite (the Basmalah) aloud". Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf (1/360), and Ibn al-Mundhir in
al-Awsat (3/128) from Abu Usaamah from Hishaam. Its isnaad is Saheeh.
From Humaid from Anas, "that he used to begin his prayer with "Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil-`Aalameen".
ATHAR SAHEEH. Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf (1/360) from Abu Khaalid al-Ahmar from Humaid.
From Ibraaheem who said, "They never used to recite Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem aloud".
ATHAR SAHEEH. Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf, as occurs in al-Insaaf of Ibn Abdil-Barr (p.254) from Hushaym, who said, "Husain informed us", from Ibraaheem.
From Ibn `Awn from Ibn Seereen, "that he used to recite Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem silently".
ATHAR SAHEEH. Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah from Hushaym who said "Ibn `Awn informed us".
And from this route, it was mentioned by Ibn Abdul-Barr in al-Insaaf (p.254).
From Shu'bah who said, "I asked al-Hakam and Hammaad and Abu Ishaaq about reciting aloud, and he said, "Recite Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem to yourself (i.e. in your soul)". ATHAR SAHEEH. Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf (1/360) from Wakee' from Shu'bah.
From `Aasim who said, "I heard Abu Waa'il opening his recitation with Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil-`Aalameen". ATHAR HASAN. Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf (1/360) from the route of Ibn Mahdee from Hammaad bin Salamah from Aasim.
From Ibraaheem who said, "The Imaam should lighten his recitation of Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem". ATHAR SAHEEH. Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf (1/360) by way of Hishaam who said, "Hussain informed us", and also Mugheerah from Ibraaheem. And Abdur-Razzaaq also reported it in al-Musannaf (2/87) from Ma'mar, from Hammaad from Ibraaheem. This sanad is Saheeh also.
Al-Haafidh Ibn `Abdul-Barr said in al-Insaaf (p.240), "All of this is the madhhab of the Kufans and also most of the Iraqees, and they used to consider whatever opposed it to be a bid'ah", meaning reciting the Basmalah aloud in the prayer.
And Ibn Abdul-Barr said in al-Istidhkaar (2/179), "Some of the Scholars declare anything that opposes the Sunnah to be Bid'ah".
And Wakee' said, "Reciting the Basmalah aloud is an innovation". (Refer to Tadkhirat ul-Huffaadh of adh-Dhahabee 1/309).
And the son of Imaam Ahmad, Abdullaah, reported from him, in al-Masaa'il (p.72), that he said, "A man says, "Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem" at the beginning of every Surah". So it was said to my father, "If a man recites al-Faatihah, while he is in prayer, and then when he finishes it he begins another
Surah, opening it with Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem?" He [Imaam Ahmad] said, "Yes, but he does not recite it aloud...".
This is also reported by his son Saalih in al-Masaa'il (1/479,480). ATHAR SAHEEH.
It was reported by Ibn Abdul-Barr in al-Insaaf (p.293) by way of Sa'eed bin Uthmaan al-A'naaqee who said that Abdullaah bin Muhammad bin Khaalid informed us, who said Asbagh bin al-Faraj informed us. This sanad is Saheeh.
And adh-Dhahabee said in al-Mukhtasir (p. 178), "And reciting aloud (i.e. the Basmalah) has been reported by way of rejected narrations".
And Ibn Abdul-Haadee said in at-Tanqeeh at-Tahqeeq (2/831), "And weak ahaadeeth, besides these, have been reported concerning reciting aloud (i.e. the Basmalah), there is no need to even mention them."
And Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughnee (1/522), "All of the narrations concerning reciting aloud are weak".
And al-Albaanee said in Tamaam ul-Minnah (p.169), "And the truth is that there is not a single clear authentic hadeeth on the subject of reciting the Basmalah aloud".
And az-Zaila'ee also declared the ahaadeeth pertaining to reciting the Basmalah aloud to be da'eef (weak) in Nasb ur-Raayah (1/323), and Ibn al-Jawzee in at-Tahqeeq (1/296), and az-Zubaydee in Ittihaaf as-Saadah (3/299), and Abul-Fadl al-Maqdisee in at-Tasmeeyah [Qaf/13/Taa].