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26 / 02 / 2026
Please note: this fatwa has been translated by artificial intelligence.
The Ruling on Reciting the Basmala Aloud in Prayer
How do we recite the Basmala silently in Surah Al-Fatiha? Isn't the Basmala an Ayah from Al-Fatiha according to the narration of Hafs from Asim? If we read Surah Al-Fatiha silently, then the Basmala is also silent; because it is an Ayah from Al-Fatiha. And if we recite aloud in prayer, do we recite aloud in Al-Fatiha, or is my statement incorrect?
Answer
I say, and with God's help: The issue of whether the Basmala is a verse from Al-Fatiha is a matter of dispute among readers and jurists. The Hanafi school holds that it is not a verse from Al-Fatiha, but rather a unique verse brought to open the chapters. Our position is that we do not recite it aloud in prayer, neither in silent nor audible prayers. And God knows best.
