Q 7: I was praying as an Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) but in one Rak`ah (unit of Prayer) I was preoccupied by some of the affairs of this world so I did not do any recitation; what is the ruling on this?

A: If you recited Al-Fatihah but did not recite anything else, your Salah (Prayer) is valid, as the recitation that follows Al-Fatihah in the Salah is Mustahab (desirable) but not Wajib (obligatory). Conversely, if you did not recite Al-Fatihah; such a Rak`ah is Batil (null and void), as reciting Al-Fatihah is a Rukn (integral) of Salah as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The prayer of whoever does not recite Al-Fatihah is invalid. In such a case, the Rak`ah that follows the mentioned one is to substitute it and the concerned person has to make up for the Rak`ah in which they forgetfully did not recite Al-Fatihah. They also have to make Sujud-ul-Sahw (Prostration of Forgetfulness) before making the Taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer) and after finishing Tashahhud (a recitation in the sitting position in the last unit of Prayer), invoking peace and blessings on the Prophet, and making Du`a' (Supplication).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.