714. What Should One Do If He Has Doubt Whether He Read Surah Fatihah?

By Asma bint Shameem 

If you’re not sure whether you read Surah al-Faatihah or not in the prayer, the scholars say that if this is just a “*doubt*” and you’re not sure,  *AFTER you finished the prayer*, then you should *ignore* that, as that is just a waswasah from the Shaytaan. 

Ibn Rajab said: 

“If a person is uncertain *after finishing a prayer* or any other act of worship as to whether he omitted a essential part of it, he should not pay any attention to that doubt.”

(al-Qawaa'id, p. 340)

But if you’re SURE that you didn’t read al-Faatihah or you were not sure if you read Surah al-Faatihah or not, *while you were still praying *, then you should assume that you did *not* read it. 

And so you should add another rak’ah to your prayer to make up for that rak’ah because the rak’ah in which you didn’t read al-Faatihah *does not count.*

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book [i.e., al-Faatihah].” (al-Bukhaari)

Then at the end of the prayer, perform two sujood as-Sahw.

And Allaah knows best