Q 2: Is it permissible for a Ma'mum (a person being led by an Imam in Prayer) to recite Qur’an along with the Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer)?

A: According to the most preponderant opinion of scholars, reciting Al-Fatihah is obligatory upon the person praying, whether it is the Imam or Ma'mum, in subvocal or loud Salah, in supererogatory or obligatory Salah, and whether the Ma'mum hears the recitation of the Imam or not, because of the general meaning of the Hadith narrated on the authority of `Ubadah ibn Al-Samit. It is also related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of `Ubadah ibn Al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah said, The Salah of whoever does not recite Surat-ul-Fatihah is invalid. Thus, the validity of Salah is dependant upon the recitation of Al-Fatihah. This general rule is not submitted to any exception. Also, if the rejection of validity is expressed in the legal texts, it designates the legal fact of the essence of the act not the perfection of the same unless otherwise is proved. However, there is no evidence here to suggest any other probability according to the most correct view of scholars.As for what the Hanafis use as evidence that the Ma'mum should not recite Al-Fatihah based on the Hadith narrated by Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Whoever prays (Part No. 6; Page No. 408) behind the Imam, then the Imam's recitation will count as his recitation , it is a Da`if (weak) Hadith. Ibn Hajar said in his book Al-Talkhis: This is a famous Hadith reported on the authority of Jabir and has many ways of transmission attributed to a group of Companions but they are all dubious. Assuming it is authentic, it should be qualified by the report related by Abu Dawud on the authority of `Ubadah ibn Al-Samit that he performed Salah behind Ibn Abu Nu`aym who was reciting loudly, and as such, `Ubadah recited Al-Fatihah. When Salah was finished, some people who heard `Ubadah reciting the Qur'an said to him: We heard you reciting Al-Fatihah while Abu Nu`aym was reciting loudly. He said: Yes, I did Once the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished a Salah (Prayer) in which he had recited (the Qur'an) loudly, he then asked: Did any of you recite along with me just now? Some said: 'Yes', Messenger of Allah. He said: Then, do not do it! I wonder what is the matter with me that I am hard put to recite the Qur'an. Thus, do not recite if I recite loudly except for Umm-ul-Qur'an (Surah Al-Fatihah). This is `Ubadah, the narrator of the Hadith, admitting that he recited Al-Fatihah behind the Imam, for he understood that the prohibition was not referring to the recitation of Al-Fatihah behind the Imam when reciting loudly. Furthermore, the general Ayah (Qur'anic verse): (Part No. 6; Page No. 409)  So, when the Qur’ân is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy. As for the authentic report: When he i.e. Imam, recites (the Qur'an), keep silent, it is qualified by the report mentioned above, narrated by Abu Dawud on the authority of `Ubadah ibn Al-Samit. It definitively proves the recitation of Al-Fatihah on the part of those led by an Imam in Jahri Salah. The basic rule states, 'When conflict arises between a specific statement and a general one, they should be reconciled to be effective together instead of neglecting one of them.' It is also related by Muslim and Abu Dawud on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Whoever performs a Salah without reciting Um Al-Qur'an (Al-Fatihah) in it, his Salah is imperfect, imperfect, imperfect. Al-Sa'ib, the freed slave of Hisham ibn Zuhrah asked: O, Abu Hurayrah, sometimes I perform Salah behind an Imam. Thereupon Abu Hurayrah pressed his arm and said: 'Recite it silently, Persian.' This reply on the part of Abu Hurayrah to Al-Sa'ib, the narrator of the Hadith from him indicates that he (Abu Hurayrah) grasped the meaning of the Hadith that (Part No. 6; Page No. 410) the Ma'mum is allowed to recite Al-Fatihah in Salah, but silently as he understood.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.