[Q 632] Ruling on Delaying Surah Fatiha

QUESTION:

In second rak’at of a salaah, we are supposed to start sura Fatiha; what if someone start reading aana and delays this wajib? Do we need to do sajda sahw?

ANSWER:

Reciting Thana (opening supplication: “Subhanakallahumma…”) in the first Rak‘ah is Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasised Sunnah), and in the remaining Rak‘ahs it is neither Sunnah nor Mustahab (recommended). However, since before Qira’ah (recitation) there is, in principle, still a place for Thana in every Rak‘ah, therefore if someone recites Thana before the Qira’ah, this will not be considered a delay in beginning the Surah, and Sajdah Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) will not become necessary. Nevertheless, intentionally doing so is also not permitted.

As mentioned in Hashiyat al-Tahtawi ‘ala al-Durr:

“اما قبل القراءۃ فھی محل الثناء”

“But before the recitation, it is the place of Thana.”

(Hashiyat al-Tahtawi ‘ala al-Durr, Volume 2, Page 151, Beirut)

And Sayyidi A‘la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Barelwi عليه الرحمة states:

“اما قبلھا فلانسلم وجوب القراءۃ متصلۃ بالقیام بل لو بدأ بالثناء کالأولی لم یترک واجبا۔فلیحرر۔قد صرح فی الھندیۃ عن الظھیریۃ :لو قرا التشھد فی القیام ان کان فی الرکعۃ الاولیٰ لا یلزمہ شیئ وان کان فی الثانیۃ الصحیح انہ لایجب.”
(Jadd al-Mumtar, Volume 3, Page 527, Maktabat al-Madinah, Karachi)

It is stated in Bahar-e-Shari‘at:

“In the standing position of the first two Rak‘ahs, if Tashahhud is recited after Alhamd (Surah al-Fatihah), then Sajdah Sahw becomes Wajib (necessary). But if it is recited before Alhamd, then it does not become necessary. (Because Tashahhud contains the meaning of Thana, and before recitation there is a place for Thana in every Rak‘ah.)”

(Bahar-e-Shari‘at, Volume 1, Page 713, Maktabat al-Madinah, Karachi)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 6th May 2026.