What’s the Ruling on Reciting Al-Fatiha at Gatherings’ End?

What is the ruling on reciting Surat all-Fatiha at the end of gatherings?

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon His noble messenger, his family, and all his Companions.

There is no doubt that reciting the Book of Allah is one of the most important and greatest acts of closeness to Allah, with immense reward and generous recompense.

I am not aware of any basis for objecting to someone who chooses to recite or not recite it at the end of any gathering. The matter is one of permissibility, seeking blessings, and hoping for Allah’s mercy, as detailed below.

Surat al-Fatiha is divine, celestial speech containing a summary of Islamic legal requests, including protection, healing, recitation, supplication, and praise, as it is a significant summary of the contents of Allah’s Book.

It is the Mother of the Book and the greatest chapter in the Quran, as stated in a sound hadith. Abu Sa‘id ibn al-Mu‘alla reported:

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) passed by me while I was praying, and he called me but I did not respond until I had finished my prayer. Then I went to him and he said, “What prevented you from coming?” I replied, “I was praying.” He said, “Did not Allah say: ‘O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger’?” Then he said, “Shall I not teach you the greatest sura in the Quran before I leave the mosque?”

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was about to leave the mosque but I reminded him, so he said, “Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin (All Praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds). It is the Seven Oft-Repeated (Verses) and the Great Quran which has been given to me.” [Bukhari; Ibn Hibban Ahmad; and Others]

And Abu Sa‘id (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

Some of the companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) went on a journey till they reached some of the Arab tribes (at night). They asked the latter to treat them as their guests but they refused. The chief of that tribe was then bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and they tried their best to cure him but in vain.

Some of them said (to the others), “Nothing has benefited him, will you go to the people who resided here at night, it may be that some of them might possess something (as treatment),” They went to the group of the companions (of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) ) and said, “Our chief has been bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and we have tried everything but he has not benefited. Have you got anything (useful)?” One of them replied, “Yes, by Allah! I can recite a Ruqya, but as you have refused to accept us as your guests, I will not recite the Ruqya for you unless you fix for us some wages for it.” They agree to pay them a flock of sheep.

One of them then went and recited (Surat al-Fatiha): ‘All the praises are for the Lord of the Worlds’ and puffed over the chief who became all right as if he was released from a chain, and got up and started walking, showing no signs of sickness. They paid them what they agreed to pay. Some of them (i.e. the companions) then suggested dividing their earnings among themselves, but the one who performed the recitation said, “Do not divide them till we go to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and narrate the whole story to him, and wait for his order.”

So, they went to Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) and narrated the story. Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) asked, “How did you come to know that Surat al-Fatiha was recited as Ruqya?” Then he added, “You have done the right thing. Divide (what you have earned) and assign a share for me as well.” The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) smiled thereupon. [Bukhari; Muslim]

Hafiz al-Ayni says in his book, “‘Umdat al-Qari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari”, in the chapter on what is said about Fatiha al-Kitab:

Know that Surat al-Fatiha has thirteen names:

It is also named “Umm al-Kitab” (Mother of the Book) as it is the beginning of the written Quran in the Mushaf and the beginning of recitation in prayer. It’s called “Umm al-Kitab” considering that “Umm” (mother) is the origin of offspring. It is said to be named so because it encompasses the meanings present in the Quran: praising Allah (Most High), worship through commands and prohibitions, promises and threats.

It’s also said that it is named so because it mentions the essence, attributes, and actions of Allah, and there is nothing like Him in existence. It is called so because it includes mention of the beginning, sustenance, and the hereafter.

It’s named “Umm al-Quran” (Mother of the Quran) because “Umm” in the language means origin. It is named so because it does not bear anything of abrogation or change, rather all its verses are clear, and thus it becomes a principle. It is also said to be named “Umm al-Quran” because it leads the rest, like a person leads others in prayer. [Ayni, ‘Umdat al-Qari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari”]

Qurtubi said that al-Fatiha is distinguished because it is the beginning of the Quran and encompasses all its sciences. It contains praise of Allah, acknowledgment of His worship, sincerity to Him, asking for guidance from Him, indicating the recognition of one’s incapacity to fulfill His blessings, the matters of the hereafter, and the outcome of the deniers, among other things that necessitate that it is the place for Ruqyah (healing prayer). [Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari]

For these reasons, some scholars favor reciting it after every deed and gathering, to remind of the great divine commands that “Umm al-Quran” (Surat al-Fatiha) contains. This acts as a renewal of creedal demands, the realization of the station of monotheism, and healing from every disease.

Ibn Abdul Hadi composed a Hadith collection named “al-Isti‘ana bi al-Fatiha ‘ala Naja al-Umur” (Seeking Help through al-Fatiha for the Success of Matters), in which he mentioned its secrets and special qualities.

The believer never satiates from goodness when its door is opened until the end is beautifully concluded. It is admirable to beautify the ending of our actions and gatherings with the remembrance of the Quran and healing through its essence by reciting it. May such remembrance elevate the spirit and the inner sight hears the celestial speech informed by him who does not speak from desire.

Abu Huraira reported:

The Apostle of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: If anyone observes prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Quran, It is deficient (he said this three times) and not complete. It was said to Abu Huraira: At times, we are behind the Imam.

He said: Recite it inwardly, for he had heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) declare that Allah the Exalted had said: I have divided the prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks. When the servant says: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Allah the Most High says: My servant has praised Me. And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate, the Merciful, Allah the Most High says: My servant has lauded Me. And when he (the servant) says: Master of the Day of judgment, He remarks: My servant has glorified Me. and sometimes He would say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me.

And when he (the worshipper) says: Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help, He (Allah) says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Then, when he (the worshipper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious, not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. [Muslim; Malik; and Others]

Be keen to recite it (Surat al-Fatiha) so that you may enjoy conversing with your Lord at every moment and time. We ask Allah for acceptance and success.

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad