Al-Fatihah ends with Aameen. The word Aameen is not part of the Qur’an by the consensus of the scholars. We have mentioned this during the first lesson since it is not written in the Mushaf. But we learnt this word aameen from our Prophet, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam when he said that the ‘Archangel Jibril taught me al-Fatihah and then instructed me to say Aameen and I said Aameen.’
Ali ibn Abi Talib said:
It (Aameen) is the seal of Allah with which He stamps the supplication of His servant.
The meaning of Aameen is ‘accept oh Allah’.
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “When the Imam says Aameen, say Aameen, for if a person’s Aameen coincides with the Aameen of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven.‘“
Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Say Aameen when the imam says it, for if anyone’s utterance of Aameen synchronises with that of the angels, he will be forgiven his past sins. ’
(Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version, he said, “When the imam says, ‘Not of those with whom Thou art angry nor of those who go astray’, say Aameen, for if anyone’s words synchronise with those of the angels he will be forgiven his past sins.” This is Bukhari’s wording, and Muslim has something similar. In another version by Bukhari he said, “Say Aameen when the reciter (i.e. the imam) says it, for the angels do so, and if anyone’s utterance of Aameen synchronises with that of the angels, he will be forgiven his past sins.”
Aameen is said by the reciter of al-Fatihah whether he is in salah or not, whether he is the imam or one of the people praying behind the imam, whether the salah is Fard or Naafilah. It is a strong Sunnah to say Aameen after al-Fatihah. People praying with the imam should try to utter their Aameen at the very moment the imam utters his. They should spare the imam a few seconds after saying: Waladdaaleen…For his breath to return before saying Ameen so they can say it together with him because the angels imitate the imam in Aameen, word for word. That is why some scholars disagree on whether the imam will say it aloud or conceal it. Some noted that in prayers that are offered aloud (Jahriyyah), the imam should say it aloud for all to hear, but in prayers that are performed in silence (Sirriyyah), he should mute it. While some said, the imam is to say Aameen silently in all cases. But the former position is better, where the imam is to say Ameen in prayers offered aloud and conceal it in those said silently. Al-Bukhari is one of such scholars who designated a chapter, especially for the subject as the prophet, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam was reported to have uttered Aameen in his prayers; the Sahaabah after him were said to warn the imam not to proceed them in uttering Aameen. They used to do that, seeking synchronisation between their Aameen and that of the imam.
Still, on Suratul Fatihah, we all know that the A’immah disagreed on the recitation of al-Fatihah in prayers. They agreed that a Munfarid (a person praying alone) must read al-Fatihah. They also agreed that the imam should recite al-Fatihah. But the agreement stops there. On the Ma’muum (one praying behind an imam), they disagreed. To some of them, the Ma’muum must recite al-Fatihah in Jahriyyah as well as Siriyyah prayers. While some said the Ma’muum should recite al-Fatihah in Sirriyyah prayers only; he’ll remain silent in a Jahriyyah prayer. Another opinion is that the Ma’muum should not recite al-Fatihah in both Jahriyyah and Sirriyyah prayers; the imam’s recitation suffices him.
Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said: If anyone observes prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Qur’an, It is deficient [he said this three times] and not complete.
And in another narration of Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Hibban is: “Perhaps you recite behind your Imam?” We replied, “Yes.” He [the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam)] said, “Do not do so except when it is (Surat) Fatiha al-Kitab, for the Salah (prayer) of the one who does not recite it is not accepted.”
Therefore, according to some scholars, all should recite al-Fatihah in their prayers, the imam, Munfarid and Ma’muum, whether such prayers are Jahriyyah or Sirriyyah, whether they are Fard or Nafilah. They also said that those leading us in prayer should endeavour to leave a space between Aameen and the commencement of Surah so that the Ma’muum that desires to recite al-Fatihah may do so. Just as Imam Malik, the Imam of the Abode of Hijrah advised, even though he did not accept the position of those who said the Ma’muum must recite al-Fatihah, he, however, said to faldstool divergence in the ranks of the Ummah, the imam can be silent for some time for any who may desire to recite al-Fatihah. A Ma’muum among those praying behind him may be a Hambali, Shaafi’e, Hanafi, and so on.
Faatihah is part of Ruqyaa (exorcism), as we saw with the Sahabi, who was asked if he had anything from Muhammad to cure someone in chains. He treated the person with al-Faatihah for some time and he was cured.
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: Some of the companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) came across a tribe amongst the tribes of the Arabs, and that tribe did not entertain them. While they were in that state, the chief of that tribe was bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion). They said (to the companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) ), “Have you got any medicine with you or anybody who can treat with Ruqya?” The Prophet’s companions said, “You refuse to entertain us, so we will not treat (your chief) unless you pay us for it.” So they agreed to pay them a flock of sheep. One of them (the Prophet’s companions) started reciting Surat-al-Fatiha, gathering his saliva and spitting it (at the snake bite). The patient got cured and his people presented the sheep to them, but they said, “We will not take it unless we ask the Prophet (whether it is lawful).” When they asked him, he smiled and said, “How do you know that Surat-al-Fatiha is a Ruqya? Take it (flock of sheep) and assign a share for me.“
Sahih al-Bukhari 5736
In another version of the narration: When they came to Madinah and told Allah’s Messenger that he had taken payment for God’s Book, he replied, “The most worthy thing for which you have taken payment is Allah’s Book.”
Bukhari transmitted it.
Congratulations Mr Present-Elect
I congratulate my Muslim brothers, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on their success in the election, where they emerged as President-Elect and Vice-President-Elect, respectively. May Allah’s guidance be with you in dispensing justice to all, whether they profess your faith or not, whether they come from your region or not, and whether or not they voted for you. Being fair and equitable to all is the trait of a Muslim!
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